Remembrances: Denise Killane

Denise Killane

Denise Killane, longtime resident of the Five Towns, passed away peacefully on March 26, 2012. She was 49.

Killane graduated from Lawrence High School in 1979 and held different part-time jobs in the Five Towns. Her sister, Gail Higgins, said she worked at a shoe store in Lawrence and at Asphalt Jungle, an old punk shop in Cedarhurst where she could be seen with her hair spiked into a Mohawk, wearing combat boots and studded accessories.

Killane moved into Manhattan to the West Village in 1983 for a few years, working in the garment industry selling buttons in wholesale. When she moved back to Cedarhurst about 10 years later, she devoted much of her time to family. “She was just a warm, family person,” added Liz Seeley, another one of Denise’s sisters.

Killane’s father, Gerald, said she occasionally volunteered for a food program at St. Joachim Church in Cedarhurst, delivering hot meals to people who were unable to physically leave their homes. Seeley said she also volunteered during youth religion classes at the church, acting as a hall monitor and helping children to the restroom.

“She was a sweetheart and put everyone before herself,” Seeley said. “She always wanted to make sure everyone else was okay instead of herself.”

Higgins said her sister loved music and acted as the president of The Rockats fan club, a band that Higgins’ husband was a part of. Some of her favorite artists included The Rockats, Billy Idol, Shaggy and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. “She loved to dance,” Seeley added. “She was a great dancer.”

“She was the memory bank of the family, as we would say,” Seeley said. “She would remember everything.”

Higgins added,” She was very helpful and caring. She was always there for anyone.”

Killane is survived by her parents, Gerald and Marie Killane, her sisters, Gail Higgens and Liz Seeley, and her brother, Jerry Killane. She was relative to many loving family members and her beloved cats. Religious service was Saturday, March 31 at St. Joachim’s Church in Cedarhurst and donations are asked to be made to Last Hope, Inc., a pet rescue, in lieu of flowers.