Denise Joanne Kaufman

Born on our mother’s birthday, September 2, in 1943 in New York, New York, Dee Dee lived in Manhattan, enjoying summers with her forever friend Linda Mitchell at the Miami Moon in Cold Spring, close to her grandparents, Anna and John, and dear cousin, Greg. Later moving to South Florida with our mother, Adele Gloria, and father, Richard Albert Berry, Dee Dee graduated from Northboro Junior High School and Palm Beach High School. In 1962 she was inducted by the Delta Omicron Chapter into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and in 1965, she graduated cum laude from Florida State University, continuing her education and certifications throughout life.

Dee Dee did everything with passion and purpose and lived her life serving others. She was a champion of the underdog and found the best in people. She collected lighthouses but was herself a beacon to others. She taught in Immokalee, Florida, and then at St. Clare Catholic School in North Palm Beach. Eventually settling down as the Human Resources Director at JFK Hospital, she flourished there for nearly 28 years, retiring in 2014. Along the way, she impacted the lives and touched the hearts of countless people. Dee Dee enjoyed her retirement, eventually moving to Brookdale, where she made many special friends and was widely hailed as trivia queen.

Known and loved for her radiant smile, enthusiastic laugh and warm embrace, Dee Dee both practiced and preached love, understanding, respect for others and generosity – unless of course, you were a Florida Gator. She valued education and read voraciously. She loved animals, especially her own cats, and donated generously to help them. She loved music and song, history, art, and, probably most of all, she loved sports -- especially college sports, and especially FSU. She enjoyed many football weekends following her traditional itinerary with her brother Jeremy. She was a longtime Seminole Booster and FSU supporter, encouraging family and friends to become Seminoles, and sponsoring many family trips to Tallahassee.

Most of all, Dee Dee was devoted to family. She provided constant love and support to her siblings and their families. Our friends were her friends. She doted on brother Jeremy Matthew Berry; brother Richard Michael Berry, his wife Marg and their children and families: Mike; Beau and Meredith and their children, Isla and Finn; Quinn and Mariana; Luke; Abby and Jordan Neeld; sister Katherine Berry Sisson, her husband, Kevin Sisson, and their child Kaitlyn, her husband, Levi Hudlow, and their son, Lincoln; and sister Bridget Ann Berry, her husband, Blas Contreras, and their children and families: Christina, Josh Tonnesen and Landon; Blas Daniel; and Anthony. She was devoted also to her extended families, including: Alicia Mimbs and Jason Drahos; Ernie and Kathie Rovella and their children: EJ and Jennifer and their children Lincoln, Landon and Genevieve; Kathryn and Todd Woodall and their children Rylee and Brodie; Michael and his daughter, Chanley; and Dee Dee’s adored godson Troy, his wife Nickole, and their children Wyatt and Owen; and the many children she “adopted” from her JFK family.

Dee Dee’s family will welcome visitors Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM at Quattlebaum, 5411 Okeechobee Blvd, West Palm Beach, FL 33417. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, April 22, 2024 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at St. Clare Catholic Church, 821 Prosperity Farms Rd. North Palm Beach, FL 33408, followed by a committal service at 12:00PM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cemetery, 10941 Southern Blvd, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411.