Denyse (Tassé) Courtney, 88, beloved mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on May 30, 2012. She is predeceased by her parents Dr. J. Rene and Mrs. Florence (Pauzé) Tassé and by her former husband Richard T. Courtney Jr., a daughter Elyse Kerry and her sister Monique Miville.

     She is survived by her brothers Rene Tassé of Pennsylvania and John Tassé of Boston and sister Francoise (Tassé) Spayne of Southborough. In addition she is survived by her children: Denise Lovendale and her husband James of Rockport, MA and Washington, DC. Richard T. Courtney III and his wife Ann of Truro, MA and Vieques, PR, Michael Courtney of Worcester, Suzette Dowd and her husband Jack of Auburn, MA, Mimi Courtney Mondor of Holden, Mark Courtney and his wife Karen of Winchester, MA, and Owls Head, Maine, Colleen Spofford and her husband Anthony of West Gardiner, Maine, Timothy Courtney and his wife Monika of Evergreen, CO, Christopher Courtney and his wife Jackie of Worcester, Franco Courtney of Paxton, Peter Courtney and his wife Heather of Paxton, Sean Courtney of Sturbridge, and Kerry Courtney of Sturbridge. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Her grandchildren are: Matthew Maloney, Shrewsbury; Kara Courtney, Nantucket; James Lovendale, Holland; Julie Lovendale Petrozzelli, Needham; Jessica Lovendale Ingari, Rockport and Kenya; Chris Courtney, Andover; Matthew Courtney, Truro; Zephrin Mondor, Sturbridge; Patrick Courtney, Andover; Brian Mondor, Holden; Courtney Dowd, Auburn; Elyse Courtney, Reston, VA; Ashley Dowd, Auburn; Michaela Courtney, Worcester; Caitlyn Courtney, Worcester; Kevin Courtney, Worcester; Jory Courtney, Paxton; Blaise Courtney, Paxton; Emilie Courtney, Sturbridge; Dylan Courtney, Sturbridge; Sarah Courtney, Evergreen, CO; Kevin Courtney, Evergreen, CO; John Courtney, Worcester; Jamie Courtney, Worcester; and Harrison Tiscione, Sturbridge.

      Denyse was born and raised in Worcester. She graduated from high school at Jesus Marie Academy in Woonsocket, RI. She attended Worcester State College. She was a lifelong learner and took numerous courses at Anna Maria, Assumption, and Worcester State College. Most of her course work was done in the areas that were a particular interest to her: music, philosophy and theology. Denyse was an accomplished pianist and in her youth shared the same piano teacher as Leonard Bernstein. For many years she was the organist at St. Charles Borromeo. She later played the organ for numerous other churches in central Massachusetts.

      While much of her time and energy was spent raising her large family, later in life she worked for the University of Michigan as an interviewer/interpreter. Throughout her life, her love of music was evident and she always provided entertainment by leading the family in song while she was at the piano. She loved classical music and going to concerts at Tanglewood, Mechanics Hall and Symphony Hall in Boston.

      The funeral will be held Tuesday June 5, 2012 from Rice Funeral Home, 300 Park Ave, Worcester, with a Mass at 10:00 am at St. Columba’s Catholic Parish, 10 Richards Ave, Paxton. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Calling hours at the funeral home will be on Monday, June 4 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, as an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Centre for Developmental Disabilities, 25 W. Chester St, Worcester, MA 01605-1137.