Denise Diane Southwick embraced the end of her four  year journey of fallopian tube cancer on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at age 42, with her family and friends at her side.    Denise is survived by her parents, Joan and Danny Southwick; sister and brother-in-law, Dana and Robert Mankin III; nephew Robert Mankin IV and niece Rileigh Mankin, her beloved dog, Oliver, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Denise is preceded in death by her grandparents Frank and Jacqueline Ford, Margaret and Harlo Southwick, and uncle Charlie Southwick.
   She graduated from French Camp School, East Union High, Cal State Fresno and UC Irvine earning a Masters and Nurse Practitioner degree. 
   Denise was employed as a women’s health Nurse Practitioner at Kaiser Permanente, Planned Parenthood, private practice in Yuma, AZ, Sonoma State Instructor, and Registered Nurse at San Joaquin General Hospital. 
   Once diagnosed, Denise embraced her disease and used it as an opportunity to learn and heal with laughter, living her life joyfully and to the fullest.  Denise was known internationally as an inspirational speaker. 
   She was cherished for her amazing smile, quick wit, infectious laugh, inspiring others, positive view of life, strength of spirit and shining brilliance.
   Denise loved gardening, being outdoors, exercising, running marathons, baking, camping and traveling with family and friends.
   A Celebration of Life will be held at CSU Stanislaus, One University Circle,
Turlock, CA, Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 11 a.m. http://www.csustan.edu/maps-directions 
 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Denise Southwick Memorial Fund,  Ovarian Cancer Alliance of California, 3900 Pelandale Avenue #420 PMB 336, Modesto, CA 95356; Healing Journeys, PO Box 221417, Sacramento, CA  95822  or Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204. An online guest book is available at www.plfryandson.com (search obituaries).

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014