Denise Kunz

Denise Elizabeth Kunz, 69, of Harmony passed peacefully Friday at the Good Samaritan Hospice Care in Wexford, surrounded by loved ones, following a two-year battle with cancer.

She is survived by her children, Daniel R. Stoltenberg, Myshel R. Stoltenberg and Derek J. Stoltenberg, all of Pittsburgh; her siblings, William Kunz Jr. of Pittsburgh and Diane Warrene and Eric Kunz of Butler; and her loving friend, Mary E. Phillips of Harmony. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joan and William Kunz of Butler.

Denise was born March 21, 1947, in Pittsburgh. She graduated from North Hills High School and studied accounting at Butler County Community College. She lived in Pittsburgh until 1977, before relocating to Butler, then Zelienople, and eventually settling in Harmony.

Denise loved the outdoors, including camping, fishing and bike riding, and had a passion for learning. She dreamed of one day competing as a contestant on either “Jeopardy” or “The Amazing Race”. She was an avid Pirates fan and bowled in a number of leagues; and she found joy in music, Christmas, her dog, Willy, and her cats, Cadence and Chrystal.

Denise also loved card and board games and the delight of competition, instilling in her children the desire to have fun and to be their best selves. And, though she never traveled as much as she would have liked, it was a point of pride for Denise that her children embraced that passion and have traveled extensively in their own adult lives.

Denise battled cancer like so many challenges in life, determined not to give in or give up, despite the odds. She fought for every day of life and every moment she could enjoy with her loved ones. She stretched an initial six-month prognosis to more than two years and continued to work full-time as an accountant for MSP, where she was employed for 32 years, until her illness finally made working impossible earlier this year. In the months since, Denise was cared for by her children and Ms. Phillips until she entered hospice care in mid-July.

KUNZ — Family and friends of Denise Elizabeth Kunz, who died Friday, July 22, 2016, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Boylan Funeral Home, 324 E. Grandview Ave., Zelienople, with final services at 11 a.m. Wednesday consisting of a short viewing and services at the funeral home, followed by a procession to the Calvary Cemetery in Butler with a musical tribute.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.