Denise Mary Therese Wurdack, 91 of Weston Lakes, TX passed away Saturday, December 3, 2022. She was born in St. Louis, MO, on May 20, 1931, and married Clarence William Peat on June 9th, 1951. Their first child James Robert Peat was born on September 18, 1953, and died of pneumonia on April 1, 1954.

Denise is preceded in death by her parents Robert Ignatius Wurdack and Rosalie Catherine Wurdack, her sister Anna Mae Joinville, her brother Robert Roy Wurdack and his wife Betty Ann Wurdack, her husband Clarence William Peat, her son James Robert Peat, and her grandson Kurtis Michael Taylor, and great nephew Joshua Kaufman.

Denise is survived by her daughters, Deborah Therese Becker and husband Robert Becker, Therese Marie Birkbeck and husband Douglas Birkbeck, and Mary Denise Matthews and husband David Matthews; brother, Gerard Alfred Wurdack and wife Debby Wurdack; grandchildren, Robert Klick and wife Katy, Patrick Klick and wife Kim, Matthew Klick and wife Katherine, Gary Klick and wife Rachel, Brandon Taylor and fiancé Wendy, Ella Birkbeck, Gabriel Becker and wife Kristina, Jayme Becker and wife Ashley, Alexandra Birkbeck, Madison Matthews, Meredith Matthews, and twelve great grandchildren; niece, Allison Wurdack-Schillings and spouse Tim, and five nephews, Gary Wurdack Jr. and wife Melissa, Timothy Wurdack and wife Diane, Drew Wurdack and wife Amberlina, Michael Kaufman and wife Robin, and Allen Kaufman and wife Christy as well as two great nieces, and nine great nephews.

Denise attended St. Rita's Catholic Church, St. Louis, MO for grade school. She studied organ and piano for service at Mass, and voted to crown the Blessed Mother during May festival. She had a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother, and St. Therese of Lisieux. Denise attended Our Lady of Presentation Catholic Church in Overland, MO for eighth grade, and attended Incarnate Word Academy, Normandy, MO, 9th – 12th grade where she graduated Summa Cu Laude, for her overall scholastics, Summa Cu Laude for Latin, and won the award for Acting/Drama. She was on the Debate Team, and Denise later attended one year of college.

She volunteered for the Catholic Church in St. Louis, helped develop the CYC organization with Monsignor Meyer, and worked for Monsignor Meyer at the Old Cathedral in St. Louis, MO. She was also a Catechist for CCE classes. While living in Chesterfield, MO she volunteered at Incarnate Word Catholic Church as a Lector and Greeter. Later, upon retirement, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was an Extraordinary Minister and Lector at Resurrection Catholic Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She moved to Houston, Texas in 2011 and became a parishioner of St. John Vianney.

Denise worked for St. John's Bank as a Broker, Bitner Insurance Company, Fisher & Fritzel as a Closer for Real Estate Loans, and New York Life Insurance Company where she was the first woman to achieve the Star Club. She later worked for Alexander and Alexander, in St. Louis, and Chandler, Frates, and Reitz, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

She loved dogs (poodles), played and coached Basketball and Volleyball, and was a Lifeguard. She loved the arts, was an actor in community theater, and authored short stories and plays. She was a docent for Philbrook Art Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and enjoyed painting typically with oil and watercolors. She enjoyed traveling to Rome, Venice, Paris, Maui, and Marco Island but her favorite city was New York City.

Her hobbies were painting, photography, knitting, sewing, needle point horse-back-riding, and reading. She was a St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan and loved St. Louis Blues Hockey. She enjoyed the Ballet and the Symphony. She was known for her trend setting fashion and hats, her sense of humor, and amazing smile. She loved creating special traditions for holidays and birthdays, and enjoyed a nice cup of hot cocoa with whipped cream on top near a fireside. Her favorite flowers were Lily of the valley, gardenias, and red and white roses. Her favorite season was Fall. Her favorite "festival-parade" was Mardi-Gras in New Orleans, where she went with her best friend Nedra.

The family will be present to receive friends Thursday, December 8, 2022 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a Vigil For The Deceased beginning at 7:00 PM at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 9, 2022 at 4:00 PM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079.

No visitation in St. Louis. Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 567 St. Joseph Lane, Manchester, MO 63021 on Thursday, December 15 at 10 a.m. Interment Calvary Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home   www.osfuneralhomes.com