But Jesus said, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19:4)
Denise Adele (Brasefield) McKenzie, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2022, at the age of 81.
Denise was preceded in death by her loving husband of 50 years, Clark (“Bud”) McKenzie (2018). She leaves behind their only child, Anthony Clark McKenzie of Livingston, Montana and her three surviving siblings, Colleen, Marleen and Robert (Karen). Denise was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Valerie Brasefied and her sister Donna (Brasefield) MacMahon. Denise was a devoted wife, mother and sister, as well as aunt, great aunt and great-great aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Denise grew up in Oakland, California and was the fourth of five siblings. She graduated from Fremont High School in 1959. Denise met the love of her life, Clark (“Bud”) McKenzie, at the Damian Club, St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. They were married in 1968 and happily resided in El Cerrito for 50 years. In the last four years of her life, Denise relocated to Castro Valley to live in a devoted care home where she received the medical support she required.
Two characteristics that Denise’s large extended family will always cherish were her life-long delight in being around children and her joy in making seniors feel loved through her years of generous volunteerism at various Oakland Senior Centers. In addition to raising the joy of her life, Anthony, she lovingly cared for many of her nieces and nephews, neighborhood children, and much later in life, her great nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she impacted as children but we are all comforted by the knowledge that Denise embraced Jesus’s example in her love and care of the little children.
A funeral mass will be held on Friday, February 25, 2022, at 10:00 am at St. Mary Church, Walnut Creek followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Lafayette. Please join the family in celebrating Denise’s life of love and service and in prayers for her joyous reunion in Heaven with her dear husband Bud and all her other loved ones.
