She was born in Louisville, KY on July 11, 1943 to the late Dewey and Dorothy McIntosh.
Dena was much loved by family and friends in Louisville as well as New Bern, NC where she lived from 1988-2021. She treasured her husband, children, grandchildren & families who were the joy of her life. God had blessed her with a generous and loving heart and she poured that out for the children and families she “adopted” along the way.
Life wasn’t easy for Dena as sole provider for her seven children, but her strong work ethic and tenacity would see them through many tough times. During her years in Louisville, she worked at Kewpie’s restaurant then started Goldy’s Catering business. Dena always had a soft spot in her heart for children in need so as her own children got a little older, she began to foster special-needs and therapeutic foster kids. She had seen firsthand the example of her own mother who fostered many children, including those with Down Syndrome. During her years in Louisville she fostered 58 children.
After her kids were grown, Dena married her “Polish Prince” Walter Sierocki and they moved to New Bern, NC. She spent the next 30 years in service of others. She and Walter were very active in parish life at Saint Paul Catholic Church and did much charitable and pro-life work as members of their Knights of Columbus Council. Dena was also an active member of the VFW Auxiliary. She became a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) for over 25 years, advocating for abused, neglected and dependent children in the court system, then went on to train other GALS.
Dena was co-founder, President and CEO of the Greenbriar Fund for Needy Children, a 501(c)(3) organization to help working families in need. They provided clothing, school supplies, eye exams and glasses for children who received no other assistance. They also brought joy to many families during Thanksgiving & Christmas holidays by providing meals, gifts and monetary support.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Walter Sierocki, daughter; Shaunia Puckett, sisters; Doris Stacy, Shirley McCollum and Anna McIntosh and brothers; Gerald and Leon McIntosh.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons; Henry Puckett Jr. (Alisa), Timothy Puckett (Sheri), David Puckett (Priscilla), Leon Puckett (Angie), Thomas Puckett (Rita), Louis Puckett (Sharon), Sisters; Shaunia Eisenback (Ronald), Louise Knight (Kenneth), brother; Larry McIntosh (Monica), twenty-nine grandchildren, fifty-one great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Arch L. Heady and Son Funeral Home in Okolona. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 6, 2024 at St. Louis Bertrand Church in Louisville, 1106 S. Sixth Street; Louisville, Kentucky 40203. Dena will be laid to rest following the Mass in Cave Hill Cemetery.
The family would like to express their appreciation for all Dena’s caregivers, including those at Masonic Home Rehab.
Donations in Dena’s memory made be made to Knights of Columbus, St Louis Bertrand Council #10682 or Kentucky Kids Belong.
