Denise O'Malley
meant so much to us all. Please help keep the legacy of her love and vibrant spirit alive by contributing to this fund in support of her sons' education.
I can only hope that one day I live a life that was as full and meaningful as yours.
She was someone very special. You felt it immediately.
Selfless, beautiful inside and out…
She was like the sister that was also one of your best buddies.
Never met a more courageous person.
Donations by check may be sent to:
Denise O'Malley Fund
c/o Middlesex Savings Bank
200 Baker Avenue, Suite 203
Concord, MA 01742-2170
I miss the way she used to call “O” a tremendous jerk(me too I guess),
when we used to beat her and Ruth in Pitch!! They did beat us once, but of cource we told them we let them win!! Fun times!
There are so many thoughts I still have trouble sorting them out, the ups and downs of family life and trying to find time for each other as couples. But I must admit sitting at one kitchen table or another playing cards is up there with the best. The kids were tucked away safe and sound and we could laugh and joke like we were still in our twenties.
If for no other reason, we owe this to Denise for keeping the original “Big O” (the Boston guys will understand that reference) on the straight and narrow. Anyone who ever spoke of Denise’s boys and didn’t include Mike in that mix didn’t really know the breadth and depth of Denise’s mothering! We’re all grateful to her for taking good care of our buddy for so many years.
Denise and I both loved reading books by Janet Evanovich and used to laugh over them when I saw her. When she fell very ill towards the end, she and I made quite a sight. I have always had a hearing problem and Denise was having difficulty speaking. She would mumble something she remembered in one of the books, and I would sit there yelling “What?”. She would mumble louder and I would yell louder “What?” Then she would either write it down or use sign language with me (we both know it) and we would crack up laughing. Of course no one else knew what the heck we were saying which made it even funnier. They were laughing at the sight of us trying to talk while we were laughing about books.
A Poem for Denise Colyer O’Malley, Sister-in-Law, Friend and Hero
God saw that Denise was getting tired
And the cure was not to be,
So He put His arms around her
And whispered, “You’ve sacrificed enough, come with Me.”
With tearful eyes we watched Denise suffer
And saw her slowly fade away.
Although we loved her dearly,
We could not, and would not, make her stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Finally we could lay her to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.
It’s lonesome here without you Denise
We miss you so each day,
Our lives aren’t the same
Since you went away.
When days are sad and lonely,
And everything goes wrong,
We seem to hear you whisper,
“Cheer up and carry on.”
Each time we see your picture,
You seem to smile and say,
“Don’t cry, I’m in God’s keeping,
We’ll meet again someday.”
I miss and love you very much. Thanks for always being so kind and generous to me even when you were suffering so much!!-(
I think of Denise, Mike, and the boys, often. Thanks to Heff et al for creating this site and a common place for Denise and Mike’s large web of family and friends to reminisce, share, and contribute in Denise’s name!
So many thoughts and memories. Where do you begin? Do I start with sneaking beers behind St. Elizabeth’s before school dances? Or road trips to The Cross? Or gatherings at O’Malley Alley. Or perhaps the awesome Columbus day weekends at Sarasota. Thank you to Heff and company for creating a place that allows us to return time after time and express our gratitude for having been blessed with having Denise and Michael (and the boys) as our friends. I know I have a few old photos to share. I’ll do my best sleuthing to come up with them.
Although it has been a long time since Denise and I last spoke, I have vivid memories of us together at Algonquin as if it were yesterday. If what they say is true, that each of us is formed by two major forces, nature (over which we have little control) and nurture (over which we can have the most profound influences), then Denise is a part of the nurturing which influenced me and others while in our formative years. High school is both the best of times and the worst of times for many people and Denise was responsible for a lot of the best.
My many memories with Denise are dominated by two factors. First of all, her smile and laugh could light up a room like no one else, and she shared this gift with us all the time. She was always the first one to see the lighter side of any situation and make us laugh when it was not always the natural first response.
Secondly, and more importantly, I can not think of a single time when Denise ever had a bad thing to say about anyone, under any circumstances (and there were plenty of opportunities to be less than nice…). She was always concerned about the consequences of actions on other people and as such, took care to always act in a positive manner. She always focused on the bright side of life and challenged us to do the same. Her gift to all was simple…. share your life with others and be positive.
I distinctly remember her unbridled happiness when she met Michael and they decided that they were perfect for each other. We all knew that life would be good from that point on, and from what I hear, it was just that. Denise’s influence went far beyond her immediate family in Northboro/Southboro and I thought it was important for you to know that.
Jeffrey Parkhurst
Boulder, CO
My condolences to Denise’s entire family. When I got word of her passing I was heart broken. She was in my thoughts for days and still is. My relationship with Denise was one of genuine friendship. Without a doubt the first person in my life I ever felt a true sense of admiration for.
For at least a couple of years after high school we would venture to “the hill” (Holy Cross) to blend in and have fun beyond discription. And there she found “O”. We lost touch but only in body. I will miss her forever.
Lou
I will always remember being with Mike on the weekend that he really met Denise.Mrs. Heffernan telling Mike and I thirty minutes prior to our road trip to visit Heff’s friend Greg Allen in Vermont that Denise Colyer is a lovely girl and one of you two should marry her. Mrs. Heffernan was right again.
Denise’s kindness in the life she lived and love of her family is an inspiration to all.
Ron and I met Denise and Mike while attending our grandson’s football and Lacrosse games at St.Anthony’s. I will always remember her easy and gentle smile. You would never know the battle she was fighting. She never complained. She was someone very special, you felt it immediately. They are a wonderful family. We hold all of them in our hearts
Twelve years of sharing a condo together with Mike and Denise in Sarasota during the Columbus Day weekend will always be remembered as the best five days of each year. It also exposed the true love Mike and Denise had for one another in their strong relationship.
Yes, there was the frequent “Jerk” uttered by Denise when Mike would be Mike, and “Just take Fruitville” whenever he would go on one of his shortcuts to the beach. But it would be spoken with a soft and understanding tone that only Denise could do. Our most sincere thanks for inviting us to share those precious weekends with you for all those years.
Mike, you were blessed with an angel for a wife. Michael, Sean, Brian and Kevin, you were unconditionally loved by a mother who would do anything for you and who worshipped the ground you all walked on. For all of us who called Denise our friend, we are so very fortunate to have all the wonderful memories of many great times shared with such a very special person.
Denise,
You always put the kids first, fought for what was right for the kids and were always strong yet kind and loving to all.
God bless you.
Love and prayers are with you.
I had the privilege of knowing Denise through Buntys Jewelry where I work.
She will live in our hearts forever!
What a great lady!
How she loved you all!
To the boys,
Unfortunately, I had not seen much of your mom for too many years, primarily because of distance (I hope), but I was blessed to spend a lot of time with her way back in the early days of your their dating and marriage. Like many of our wives, your mom put up with our anitics and I think really got a kick out of all your dad’s wacko HC buddies. She was awesome, but I’m not so sure she ever forgave me for arriving at their wedding celebration in a shopping cart! As always, that wasn’t my fault, probably Chuck or Rabbit’s! I loved your mom, she was the best and I will always have a special place in my heart for her. God bless all of you and please take good care of the old man!
We miss Denise so much. She was a wonderful person. I know she loved all her boys and her husband very much. We were so fortunate to have had her as a part of our lives and we will never forget her strength and persistance with everything. I know she will be watching over all those she loved.
With many fond softball memories we remember Denise and send our love to her family. She will truly be missed!!
As I walk through the halls of james E Allen Jr Sr HS I think fondly of you, Denise, and the peaceful kind way you had with all of the students and staff who were inspired by you. When I see the markings on the doors that you “demanded” ever so nicely be put there to meet the needs of the students with visual difficulties a smile comes to my face. I follow the directions you gave us all (that I used to tease you about) so that we did the right thing for your students to keep them safe. I miss you, my friend, but I take comfort in the fact that I know you are looking out for me from above.
How blessed are we to have been given the gift of Denise as a mother, sister, friend and wife of “O”. I wasn’t lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Denise on a daily basis – on a field, at work, or just chatting about life at the kitchen table – but when I did, the warmth of her smile was evident to everyone in the room. Surely, the legacy of such a tremendous group of family and friends that cherished her in every facet of her life is a testament to the wonderful person that she was. God Bless!