Denise was born on the 7th of December 1961 to John and Carol Pritchard. She grew up in Mount Pleasant Lydney and was the eldest sister to Mandy, Nicola and Jonathan. Denise had a happy childhood enjoying many holidays in the family caravan, but her love was spending time with her family. She enjoyed many days out with her Grandma Brooks and loved spending time with her beloved Nanny and Granddad Pritchard playing in the woods surrounding their house in Mosley Green. As a teenager she became involved in many sports, her best being hockey and still to this day her PE teacher and close friend Caroline Stanley boasts how she was her star player! After School Denise started working at J Alan’s, it was here she met her husband Mark. After a brief courtship and despite there young age of 18 and 20 they got engaged, both Mark and Denise’s parents had reservations about marrying at such a young age, even the Vicar tried to slow them down but despite there concerns they married on the 3rd of April 1982 and were to spend 28years of happily married life together proving they were soul mates from the beginning. In 1986 Denise gave birth to her first daughter Emma followed two years later by Sophie then eventually Melissa. Denise’s world revolved around her daughters calling them her greatest achievement in life, wherever Denise went her daughters would follow in toe earning her the nickname ‘mother hen’ by her father John. Denise, Mark and the girls enjoyed life together having numerous holidays every year either abroad or in this country, a favourite of Denise’s being Disney land visiting both Florida and Euro Disney five times…she was definitely young at heart! Denise worked hard all her life and whilst raising her three daughters. She spent 20 years working for Tony Box in Lydney, from their she landed her dream job as a teaching assistant at Severnbanks school. The school and it’s staff played an important part in Denise’s life, she became passionate about the children at the school especially when it came to sport. Not only did Denise take on the role as football coach but also became a mascot for the children, her headmistress Pam Howell describes Denise as a “mad woman” at the side of the football pitch, cheering and shouting whilst not afraid to challenge any referee if she thought there was an injustice against her team! She was also a big part of the severbanks cheerleading squad and along with her good friends Anne and Paula she helped them to dance in national competitions and also helped choreograph routines for the half time entertainment at a number of Bristol city matches…… as her fellow colleagues say ‘she never saw much of the dancing as she always cried so much with such immense pride for her girls!’ Her colleagues at severbanks describe Denise as a lady full of humour , fun and laughter which her family also strongly agree with. Since Denise was diagnosed she never lost her fun loving and unique personality, she remained strong and determined throughout her illness. She loved nothing more than to watch the football, Denise loved watching matches especially when she went to Liverpool to watch games with her brother Jonathan……..Denise was such a football fan that even after her 8 hour operation at Frenchay hospital her first words when she came around were ’what’s the score’! Along with football her other love was Take That and during Denise’s recovery from her operation, she got the strength to stand for three hours at Cardiff Arena watching them perform. She had an abundance of energy dancing and singing to her favourite group, a cherished memory of her enjoying the moment, which will be held close to her sister Mandy and her daughters hearts. Denise remained strong through her illness and many people could not believe she was ill, she carried on with life as normal and enjoyed many holidays in the last 15 months since her diagnosis; including family holidays to centre parks and the isle of white and she even went to Disney land AGAIN! enjoying the magic with her beloved sister and brother in law. Her strength was admirable, she never suffered with any pain and never had any symptoms from the chemotherapy, she didn’t want sympathy and wouldn’t ever complain about her illness. Her family and friends meant the world to her, she regularly socialised with her friends who never forgot Denise during her illness, she particularly enjoyed receiving her weekly uplifting letters from her good friend Heather Payne which installed much strength in Denise. The simple things in life were her passion, walking the family dog Toby, spending time with her large family and going out for meals, especially the latter months going to Costa coffee for a cappuccino and a lemon muffin! The chemotherapy must of given Denise a craving for this as in one week Mark spent £80 alone on coffee and muffins! Denise will be remembered by her daughters as a devoted mother who was also there Best friend and to her husband as his soul mate and one of a kind. She will be missed everyday in more ways than could ever Possibly be explained! She had so much life, so for it to be cut short was devastating for her family. She truly was a unique person and will never be out of her family and friends hearts xxxxx