Denyse Lee

Denyse (Holsapple) Lee

Denyse Lee (Denny), 84, of Fairfield, CA, passed away on September 30, 2023.

Denny was born in Hudson, NY on March 19, 1939, to Rodford and Sally Holsapple.  After graduating from Germantown Central School, she attended St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in New York City and was certified as a Registered Nurse. She worked in nursing care her entire working career, and relocated to the San Francisco Bay area in 1978.  She specialized in care for addicted persons and their related illnesses and conditions for much of her career.  She directed the San Francisco General Hospital Substance Abuse and Addiction Clinic for over 10 years where she was a Pioneer in the San Francisco needle exchange program. The Mayor of San Francisco honored this service by designating April 25, 2001, Denyse Lee day in San Francisco.  She retired in 2001 after over 35 years of serving others medical needs. 

In retirement Denyse moved to Shacklefords, VA, and then Leander, TX, before returning to California and the Bay Area she had grown to love.  She traveled extensively in Europe and Asia, and to exotic locales in the Adirondacks, the Maryland Appalachian Mountains, and the jungles of Thailand.  She converted to Catholicism in 2007, and attended mass on Sundays at St Gregory in San Mateo, CA. Denny also enjoyed reading, history, cooking, art, and theater.

She is survived by her children, Richard D Lee, Jr. (Trina) of Virginia Beach, VA; Cindy Lee Yoxsimer (Stuart) of San Mateo, CA; Andrew P Lee (Lizza) of Cedar Park, TX; and Jon C Lee (Annette) of Fairfield, CA; seven grandchildren (Amy, Madison, Alexander, Nathan, Jonathan, Andrew and Elizabeth) and three great grandchildren (Avan, Derek, Cameron). In addition to her immediate family, surviving are her sister (Elizabeth), brother (Kurt), and several nieces and nephews.

A Committal Service will be held Monday, Nov 20th at 11:00am at St John’s Cemetery, 910 Oregon Ave, San Mateo, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VITAS Hospice – Fairfield, 2480 Hilborn Rd Ste 105, Fairfield, CA, 94534.

Sneider, Sullivan & O’Connell’s, San Mateo, CA is making arrangements for cremation and interment, and is assisting the family with arrangements.  Online condolences may be made by visiting  www.ssofunerals.com.