March 22, 2022
In Loving Memory of Denise (Denese) who passed away on March 22, 2022 at the age of 64 years.
The beloved wife and travel companion of Ernst (Ernie) Berken for very nearly 40 years.
Denese was born and lived in Whitehorse for her entire life. Although she had aspired to live somewhere south and away from Yukon winters, her work and friends here were too much for her to give up.
The travel bug had bitten Denese in January of 1983 when we had our first vacation together in Mexico. Since then she travelled to many places in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. She had been to every province in Canada. New York, Alaska, Hawaii, California, Arizona, Florida, and many islands in the Caribbean were also visited. Denese was especially fond of Barbados where we had adopted new friends close to us.
Her career had to do with Drafting and Cartography with various government departments. For 19 years, Denese was involved with the mapping for the Yukon First Nations Land Claims Agreement.
She was very talented when it came to cooking, baking, sewing (she made her own wedding dress). Her hobbies were reading, crocheting, needlepoint stitching and everything in between. She loved listening to music, collecting things that interested her, and camping in the summer months. Denese had also done some volunteer work in our community.
In 2016, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She received life saving surgery that year and was able to return to work and travel soon after. The cancer had returned and she went on to battle that during the pandemic. It would not let go of her this time.
Denese’ family would like to thank Dr. Robin Jamieson and all of the other health care professionals at the Whitehorse General Hospital who cared for Denese in her time of need. Thank you also to the staff and doctors at Vancouver General Hospital for giving her more time to be with us. Thanks go out to all of our wonderful friends and family who supported us when the chips were down.
Denese is survived by her husband Ernie. She leaves behind – Brothers; Emil, George, Dennis (Theresa) Beaudoin and Sister; Rose Beaudoin (Philip). Nieces; Alberta Monaghan, Elizabeth Olynk, Rachel Johnson. Nephews; Jason Evans, Gary Johnson, Greg Johnson, and David Alexander Beaudoin. Extended Family; in Ottawa and Sudbury, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec.
Denese is pre-deceased by her parents Alice and David Beaudoin.
Please note date change for her celebration of life – Thursday July 14, 2022 at 2:00 at the Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre
For more info : contact Ernie at berken@northwestel.net .
“Remembering you with loving hearts”