LeBlanc recalls fond memories with Denney

When I first took on my role with Northeast Colorado Area Agency on Aging in January 2010, my family and I were new to the area and a transplant from California at that. I would also be filling the shoes of someone else who had been in the role for many years. I reached out to every senior and wanted to meet with them personally. I wanted each of them to feel comfortable with me and trust me with confidential information they might share about their health and needs.  When I first met Maralyn Denney, she had a tough exterior and I knew she was going to challenge me and was going to keep me on my toes.  I like a challenge, and I was determined to get her to like me, but more importantly to trust me and for someone who was so independent, to allow me to slowly bring assistance into her home as she aged. 

It did not take long for us to share cups of coffee several times a month on my way out of town for a meeting, or a glass of iced tea in the afternoon. I loved Maralyn’s stories of her days as a Tupperware Representative, she would share about the different parties she had and the people who came. In her role as the owner of Dairy King and the funny stories of her customers and the car-hops.  We had so many laughs over the years. 

When I moved to Wyoming, the face-to-face visits became phone calls, then over time they became less frequent then stopped all together.  When I tried to call her, she would always remember me and we would pick up where we left off; but slowly over time, she stopped answering her telephone.  I missed our chats. 

Maralyn Denney was a treasure and I will miss my friend greatly. Rest in peace.