Denise J. Rachel

Denise Jeanne Rachel passed away on August 25th 2018 at her home in Norwell MA.  Denise was born in Quincy, on January 27th 1954, to George and Christine (Sabans) Milliken.  After a long terrible battle with cancer, Denise made the decision to stop fighting.  She spent her last weeks in her music studio, sleeping next to her Steinway and listening to her wind chimes in the summer breeze.  She was able to say goodbyes to her friends and family, enjoy piles of old photographs, and read the many cards that came in for her.  She collected quite a stack. 

 Denise was a truly remarkable person.  She was capable of anything she put her mind to, and she put her mind to everything.  
 
 Denise was a valued piano tuner and technician in the south shore for almost 40 years.  Though she made her living mainly by tuning pianos, she had an abundance of skills and interests.  Teaching piano and watching her students grow was her biggest passion during her last few years.  It seemed that her decision to stop fighting the cancer was easier for her than deciding to give up teaching.  She hoped that she was able to instill her life long love of making music in her students and loved ones.  
 
 In her last days Denise longed to soon be with her mother Christine and brother David.  She will be missed tremendously by her family.  She is survived by her father George Milliken, son Saban Poole, daughter Genevieve Gallagher and her husband Thomas, brother Glenn Milliken and his husband Oliver Sun, sister-in-law Paris Milliken, former sister-in-law Debra Milliken and siblings Chalz Rossi, Ananda Milliken, Jennifer Sanders and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. 
 
She was a fearless powerhouse of intelligence and energy.  She gave her two children all the tools (actual and figurative) they will need to create, be happy, and live life with her confidence and ingenuity.
 
 Please join the family on September 15th at 11AM at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist church in Norwell Center for a music filled service followed by a reception.

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