Published: Wednesday 20th of August 2025
Denise
You will already know from Paul's heartfelt eulogy that our beloved sister, Denise, has passed into the world of Spirit following a relatively short time of suffering. After being lovingly cared for by husband Daniel, she spent her last few weeks in hospital. We will all miss her, particularly Daniel, they being devoted to one another.
Together with Daniel, Denise was one of a small band of trustees of Gladys Franklin's teachings, made available on the Studies on Life website. She first made contact with Gladys after responding to an advertisement in the early 1990s, and I met Denise not long afterwards at one of our group's meetings in Leicester. When she and Daniel were married in 1996 I was privileged to be at their spiritual wedding ceremony. Although they went to live in Canada, I have been blessed over the years by their friendship and by our weekly Skype calls – an opportunity to discuss everything in our lives, including our dreams, visions, and aspirations towards the work of the Spirit in the way we were taught by Gladys.
Looking back over the highlights of more than 30 years of friendship there are two things that come immediately to mind. Firstly, the occasion when Denise and Daniel visited the UK in 2012 and came to our house for a meal, after which we walked through the local park, chatting as though we had never been apart. Secondly, during a Skype call when Denise had to answer their landline phone, I could hear her in the background speaking to someone who was evidently a pushy salesperson. She spoke so calmly, so patiently, so kindly, even though she was not interested in what was on offer, and I thought what a wonderful example it was of all we have learned – an example I will never forget.
Before becoming ill Denise mentioned a vision she had had of a rose bush with red roses, and asked me for my interpretation. I replied that it most probably gave a time of year when roses bloomed (late May), and represented a period of love being to the forefront. What she omitted to say was that she also saw a rose bush with white roses, something she associated with death. She hadn't wanted to worry anyone. Then she became ill, and – as her vision showed – much love went into her care, most of all from Daniel, prior to her passing. It seems that her inner self had shown Denise that her time on earth was drawing to a close.
Just before she died I too had a vision. I saw a woman in front of me holding a small silver object in her hands. From it she took out some purple fabric, almost like pure colour, which she unfolded and spread out. The woman didn't look exactly like Denise, but I felt it was her inner self, showing in the purple colour her love of serving the light, a role to which she would gravitate after leaving the earth body behind for the last time. Knowing this we can be happy for her in the life she has earned, and likewise be glad to know that she is not lost to us (most especially to Daniel) because of our being able to meet together during the time of sleep.
Our thoughts and blessings are with Denise, and with Daniel.
Author: Colin