Denise Gail Lofstrand, 72, passed away on Sunday, March 31, at her home in Weymouth.
Denise was born and raised in Malden and moved to Plymouth to raise her children. As a teenager, Denise played basketball and earned a letter in field hockey at Malden High School, which she graduated from in 1969. Denise was gifted as a teacher and spent much of her adult career working as a trainer for Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare.
Denise enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking large meals, and feeding everyone.
Denise was the person who was endlessly available to help everyone and never ceased to be a shoulder to cry on or an ear for her friends and family. Denise prided herself on being an extremely dedicated mother of her two children. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to see her children happy.
But Denise’s greatest joy came from being Nene to her six grandchildren. She will be remembered for her huge heart, her introverted nature, her love of bargain shopping, her ability to be kind and empathetic to everyone, her persistence in overcoming hard things, and her deep, deep devotion to her family.
Denise was the daughter of the late George and Claire Pike. Denise’s son, Erik Matthew Lofstrand, and former spouse, Carl Otto Lofstrand, proceeded her in death. Denise is survived by her daughter and son-in law, Jaime and Stephen Mahoney; her daughter-in-law, Stephanie Lofstrand; her siblings and their spouses, including Richard (Dick) and Ellen Pike, Diane and Michael Puopolo, David and Evelyn Pike, and Deborah and George Smith; her many nieces and nephews; and her grandchildren Noelle and Cadence L’Heureux, Tiberius and Astrid Lofstrand, and Norah and Chloe Mahoney. Denise was so blessed to have so many who loved her, including her very close friend Brian Lovett.
A visitation for family and friends will be held at the Cartmell-Davis Life Celebration Funeral Home, 150 Court St., Plymouth, on Thursday, April 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. Mass at St. Peter’s Church in Plymouth will be held the following morning on Friday, April 12, at 10:30 a.m.