Marie-Louise Denys

Marie-Louise Denys, age 83, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away on March 19, 2023 at Agrace Hospice, with her sister Charlene by her side. Marie-Louise was born in Brussels, Belgium on 10/23/1939. She came to the US with her parents in 1946 when dad became an international civil servant in the newly formed United Nations. She maintained close ties with family in Belgium and spoke fluent French, and like our dad, loved to travel, and learn about different cultures and traditions. She earned a nursing degree from New York Hospital, then moved from NY to Madison, WI, where she worked at the VA Hospital. Her love of sharing her medical knowledge and skills led her to earn a masters degree, and move to teaching nursing at Madison Area Technical College, as well as to do volunteer nursing in Mexico, and with migrant workers in Wild Rose, WI.

She had eclectic interests: gardening with an array of wild flowers and unusual vegetables, both of which she was happy to share; photography, particularly portraits of people being themselves; cooking national dishes; travel internationally and in the US, always on the lookout for the road less travelled. Her collection of books covered poetry, history, anthropology, art, mysteries, nature, architecture, music, and more. There wasn’t any subject that escaped her interest. Her house was also a home to several dogs and cats - some were hers, and some were mine. She welcomed all creatures, both human and otherwise, to her home and garden with a sense of humor about foibles and a gusto for adventures.

Most of all she was a fun, loyal, and helpful friend, and the best sister anyone could ever hope for.