Denise Saponara '88

Denise Jeanette Saponara, also known as Niecy, Pegs, Shirley, Queen Of Hemlock Juice, Toots and Miss Denise, passed away on Wednesday July 19, 2023, following a long battle with sarcoidosis, multiple myeloma, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). She was 53. Many of Denise’s closest family members were gathered around her as she left us.

Denise resided in Romeoville and is survived by her daughters Josephine Saponara, Tatiana Floramo, and Isabeau Saponara. Born to Irene and Faust Joseph Saponara, Denise spent her childhood in Wheaton among five spirited siblings in a boisterous household with an unknown number of animals and a father with an outsized penchant for practical jokes. Following her fourth grade debut as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, Denise fell head over heels for dancing and theater.

Blessed with a great many loving friends and colleagues, Denise was known as a strong, caring, fun talented, loyal woman of exceptional wit. A high school peer who heard about Denise’s declining health recently texted to thank her for being “open, excited, and free of judgement” during their teen years, and kind when others were not. 
After skating through adolescence with flying colors, Denise attended Loyola University Chicago and the University of Illinois Chicago, where she pursued both biology and liberal arts.

Denise continued dance training, teaching and choreography throughout her life. A longtime owner of Steps on Main Dance Studio in Downers Grove, she inspired young dancers and charmed and adored hundreds of children who pranced eagerly through her doors. With exuberance and flair, Denise enjoyed tapping her way through the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade with the Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and performing in Oprah Winfrey’s 25th Anniversary Show.

Denise loved to choreograph, too. She was particularly proud of her work on a local production of Fiddler on the Roof in 2013. Around that time, she accepted small roles in television and film productions in Chicago and branched into modeling. 

An avid animal lover, Denise owned and cared for many species. Most recently, she nurtured a mini civilization of seven cats and one enormous, devoted Great Dane, Neo, who became her loyal shadow.

Denise was a loving sister and sister-in-law to Irene and David Gottwalt and children Francis Saponara-Rodriguez, Alicia and Colton Malt, Anthony and Anna; Christine and Steven Elgeness and daughter Emilia; Faust Anthony Saponara and Leila Saponara and children Nicole, Catherine, Allison, and Christine; Theresa Baranko and Jesus Martinez and children Jesus and Theresa; and Lisa and Patrick Dammert and children Robert and  Michael.

Denise was preceded in death by her father Faust Joseph Saponara, grandparents Anna and Michael Baranko; grandparents Giovanna Camilla Saponara (Nonna) and Faust Saponara (Papa); aunts Melina Rissone, Ann Hunt, and Mary Ann Saponara; uncles Ron Rissone & Steve Fitzer, and a beloved cousin, Marc Rissone.

The wake will be held on Sunday July 23 from 1pm-7pm at Hultgren Funeral Home at 304 N. Main Street, Wheaton IL. Chapel prayers will be held on Monday, July 24, at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10am at St. Michael’s church at 310 S. Wheaton Ave., Wheaton IL. Interment to follow the funeral at Assumption Cemetery, 1S510 Winfield Road, Winfield, IL. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the family via Venmo: https://account.venmo.com/u/Ireneasaponara.