Sister Denise Gough was born May 10, 1929 to Frank M. Gough and Catherine P. Volkering and given the name Anne Marie. Anne Marie was the sixth of thirteen children, seven brothers and five sisters. Her youngest brother died shortly after birth.
Anne Marie entered St. Walburg Monastery in 1952, became a novice in 1953 and received the name Denise. First profession followed in 1954, perpetual in 1957, silver jubilee in 1979, golden in 2004, 60th in 2014, and 70th in 2024.
Sister Denise studied nursing at St. Elizabeth School of Nursing, graduating in 1957. For the next nine years she served as staff nurse at Mount Mary Hospital, Hazard, KY, St. Joseph Hospital in Florence, CO, and at Madonna Manor. In 1966 Sr. Denise trained in anesthesia at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN and then worked as a nurse anesthetist at St. Joseph Hospital, Florence, CO. She moved to Morehead, KY in 1975 to work as nurse anesthetist at St. Claire Regional Medical Center and retired from there over thirty years later in 2006. Denise described her work in the operating room: “I take them under and bring them back up.”
After retirement Sister Denise continued to live in Morehead, KY with Sr. Rosemary McCormack and their dog Lucy. She cared for house and yard, purchased food, and contracted for repairs and improvements. The new asphalt driveway and roof replacement added value to the house.
Denise and Rosemary welcomed guests to their home, most often sisters from St. Walburg’s. They loved company, taking them out to eat and enjoying a good card game with a background of country music and lots of laughter. Saturday night card games continued after they moved to the monastery in 2014. Relocating to Villa Hills made it easier to visit family and enjoy nieces and nephews and their children.
Sister Denise’s health began to fail in the past year. She died peacefully in the presence of her community on Sunday, August 25, 2024. She is preceded in death by her parents Francis and Catherine Volkering Gough, her brothers: Edward, Francis, Jr., Robert, Raymond, William, James and Joseph and her sisters Mary Ellen Webb, Sr. Margaret Mary Gough, Kathleen and Eileen Gough. She is survived by her sister Sr. Stella Gough, OSB and many nieces and nephews, friends and her Benedictine community.
Vigil service was held the evening of August 29. Mass of Christian Burial followed on Friday, August 30, 2024 with interment in St. Walburg Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Walburg Monastery, 2500 Amsterdam Rd., Villa Hills, KY 41017; https://www.stwalburg.org/support-us/.