Born Denise Elizabeth Boursaux in Paris, France on January 19, 1924, she passed away peacefully on January 19, 2021, age 97. Denise was the daughter of Charles Boursaux, a senior executive with the Bank of France and Yvonne Boursaux. A native Parisian, she also spent summers in Donville-les-Bains, Normandy with Claude and Daniel, her brothers. She experienced firsthand the German occupation of Paris from 1940-1944 and was there to celebrate its liberation in August 1944.

After WWII, Denise worked for the US Army PX in Germany where she met Fred (d. 2014), her beloved husband of 67 years, a first generation Italian-American. They were married in 1947 in Paris before moving to New York City. Fred (Alfred A. Puglisi) predeceased her in 2014. She is survived by her brother, Daniel Boursaux of Paris,

her children, Claudine Puglisi Cagwin of San José, CA, Michael Puglisi and his wife Valerie, of Larchmont, NY, and Catherine Puglisi and her husband William Barcham of Jersey City, NJ, loving sister-in- law, Diana Lamanno, and grandchildren, Alex and Michelle Cagwin, Suzanne (Puglisi) Hersh and Jeanne (Puglisi) Grzywacz, Raphael

and Arianna Barcham, and great-grandchildren, Clint and Carson Grzywacz, Michael and Hazel Hersh, and Theodore Barcham, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Long-time residents of Jackson Heights, NY, Denise and Fred also maintained a home in Menton, France, spending a few months there visiting family and friends and a summer home in Northport, NY, a welcome gathering place for barbeques and beach outings. A savvy business woman, Denise was a key force in helping Fred launch and grow Pustorino & Puglisi CPAs. As a mother, she ensured that her children were students of the world exposing them from an early age to their French and European heritage with periodic summers spent in France. She was an avid reader, a lover of history and languages, and with Fred, regularly attended the opera, classical music concerts and museums in addition to traveling extensively. Denise was an excelent seamstress and knitter and spoiled everyone with her needlework pillows. Above all, she was a lady who epitomized style, grace, tolerance and elegance. She had a quiet, but intelligent and humorous personality.

Denise was a devoted wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who had a full life, devoted to her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all.

In light of current events, a celebration of life will occur at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send me- morial donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation at https://parkinson.org.