Denise J Meunier Obituary Final Draft

St. Johnsbury, VT – Denise J Meunier, daughter of the late Jean and Laurette Meunier of Westfield, died on March 6, 2025, at the age of 69 from complications of multiple sclerosis.   Born on September 26, 1955, in Newport, VT, she was the third of four children, and only daughter born to Jean and Laurette.

Denise graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1973 where she played four years of basketball for the SH Cardinals.  She loved to bike, fish, and be outside at every chance. After graduation, Denise enlisted in the US Air Force and had an accomplished 20-year career in the military at McGuire Air Force Base, NJ where she served as a flight engineer in the 18th Military Airlift Squadron. In 1983, she made military history as part of the first all-female USAF transatlantic flight on May 9 when the crew flew a C141B Starlighter from New Jersey to Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany.  The achievement earned the crew an exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, an honorary meeting with President Ronald Reagan and an interview with Joan London on Good Morning America. In 1984 Staff Sargeant 'D.J.' Meunier received the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight connected with the Grenada airlift.   She retired in 1993.
It was in New Jersey that she met her best friend and partner of many years, Joanne Singer, who predeceased her in 2011.   After traveling to 38 countries with the Air Force, Denise chose to return to her beloved Vermont where she shared a country home with Joanne for many years in Troy, not far from her childhood home.    There they enjoyed countless campfires with friends, relatives and Freckles, the dog, listening to music from country Johnny Cash to pop-opera Susan Boyle, and cheering on the New York Yankees from their living room.  Their travel stayed mostly local with an occasional gambling trip to Foxwood.
Denise is survived and mourned by her brother Roger, sister-in-law Debbie of Newport Center, nephews Scott of Jay and Marc of Newport Center and their families, her aunt Evelyn Meunier of Pawling, NY, long-time personal aide Heather Kennison of Newport Center, her cousin and sister-in-heart Jane Meunier-Powell of Quechee, Joanne's daughters, Penny of Pennsylvania, Pattie of Arizona, Pam of Virginia and her many cousins and their families. She was predeceased by two brothers, Dennis in 2004 and Danny in 2011.

Donations in Denise's name can be made to the St. Johnsbury Health and Rehabilitation Hospital, 1248 Hospital Drive, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.   She was content there and well cared for by the staff.   For Denise, if she could see the sky out of her window, she was home.