Denyse Marie Guariglia (née Couët)

Denyse Marie Guariglia (née Couët), age 90, passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 11, 2026, at Harmony at Glasgow in Newark, Delaware.

Born on August 3, 1935, in Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada, Denyse was a beloved daughter of Adolphe Couët and Cécile Lefebvre Couët.

After graduating from the Université Laval School of Nursing, Denyse moved to New York City, where she met the love of her life, Edoardo Guariglia, M.D. They were married in 1959. Together, these two young immigrants, with no immediate family in the United States, built a loving family and an extraordinary life together in New York, where they raised their three children and instilled in them the values of education, compassion, perseverance, and the importance of family.

Denyse was active in several organizations, serving on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Women’s Club of New York and as a member of the Friends of Université Laval (U.S. Chapter). A devoted animal lover, she spent decades feeding, rescuing, and providing medical care to countless feral cats. She also had a passion for travel, especially to Italy, where she and her family spent cherished time with Edoardo’s relatives.

A woman of boundless curiosity, Denyse had a lifelong passion for current events and world affairs. She faithfully read several newspapers each day, enjoyed spirited conversations, and never hesitated to share her well-informed opinions. She remained intellectually engaged throughout her life, inspiring those around her with her wit, curiosity, and independent spirit.

In 2004, Denyse and Edoardo moved to Williston, Vermont, to be closer to their grandchildren and their vacation home in Québec. Following Edoardo’s passing in 2006, Denyse built a rich and fulfilling life of her own. She remained socially active with friends from Lane Place and Chatham Woods and was a member of the Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region and the Vermont Italian Cultural Association.

After 18 years in Vermont, as age gradually slowed her down, Denyse moved to Newark, Delaware, in 2022 to be near her youngest son and his family. She enjoyed several years in independent living before transitioning to assisted living, where her warmth, wit, and resilience continued to touch the lives of those around her. Denyse passed away peacefully after a full, meaningful, and well-lived life.

Denyse is survived by her children, Maurice (Hélène) Guariglia, MaryAnne (Marco) Morin, and Pierre (Judy) Guariglia; her grandchildren, Beatrice Guariglia, Bruno Guariglia, and Cielle Guariglia; her sister-in-law, Maria Marrocco; and many beloved nieces and nephews, including Natalie Couët, Martin Couët, Dominique Desrochers, François Desrochers, Louis Desrochers, Michèle Marrocco, and Patrizia Marrocco.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Edoardo Guariglia, M.D.; her parents, Adolphe and Cécile Couët; her brother, Marcel Couët and his wife, Beatrice; her sister, Estelle Desrochers and her husband, Pierre; and her brother-in-law, Nicola Marrocco.

A Funeral Mass celebrating Denyse’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 3 St. Peter Street, Winooski, Vermont 05478. Burial will immediately follow.

The family gratefully acknowledges the compassionate care and kindness shown by the staff of Harmony at Glasgow, Meadowcrest, VITAS Healthcare, and Maria Palumbo.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Denyse’s memory to an animal welfare organization of your choice or to your local animal shelter.

Denyse will be remembered for her unwavering devotion to her family, her quick wit, boundless intellectual curiosity, compassion for animals, generosity of spirit, and fierce independence. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the lives she touched, and the values she passed on to future generations.