Denise McCuistion

Denise Carolyn Bassetti McCuistion passed away on August 31st, 2024 after a six-month battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her daughters in the beautiful home she built in Gloucester, Virginia.

Denise was born on September 21, 1964 to George Joseph Bassetti and Sharon Rose DeClerico. She was raised by her beloved Grandpop, Louis DeClerico, in Hopewell, New Jersey. In her 20s, Denise moved across the country to California and started a family. She had four daughters – Ashley, Kayla, Lindsey, and Nicole – who she dedicated her life to raising with as much love, joy, laughter, and adventure as possible.

Denise loved to travel and explore new places, and was constantly planning trips with her daughters and friends. No one who knew her ever experienced boredom in her presence. At home, she kept herself busy with a seemingly endless stream of projects – designing and constructing new rooms in the house, Japanese and English gardens in the back yard, and a greenhouse where she could grow citrus and olive trees. She also loved to sew, paint, read, and cook. Denise was a woman of many talents who never turned away an opportunity to learn something new.

Denise earned her bachelor’s degree from Utah Valley University and her master’s degree from the College of William & Mary while raising her children as a single parent. She fed her passion for helping others by working as a school counselor, serving the Mathews community for 13 years at Thomas Hunter Middle School and the West Point community at West Point Elementary since last fall. Denise impacted the lives of countless students and parents through this work, offering guidance, support, laughter, and unconditional love to anyone who walked through her door.

Denise had a smile that could light up any space and was a constant source of joy, comfort, and inspiration to all who knew her. To her daughters, she was the most beautiful, brilliant, strong, silly, kind, and powerful person in the world, and they will carry her legacy proudly throughout their lives.

Friends and family are invited to join Denise’s daughters at their home for a Celebration of Life on September 21, 2024. Guests may come for as long as they would like between 12:00pm and 4:00pm. Because she hated funerals and never wanted anyone to be sad, guests are encouraged to wear Denise’s favorite colors – green and yellow – and come with plenty of fond memories to share.