Denise Ward-Wright Obituary

Denise "DeeDee" Ward-WrightDeparted this world at sunset October 3rd, 2023. DeeDee was born August 29, 1960, in Wilmington to Connie Lennon Monroe and Charles David Ward, eldest grandchild of Clyde and Lila Lennon, Marsden and Mary Gladys Ward. She attended Wrightsville Beach Elementary and New Hanover High School, where she was President of the Spirit Club, Homecoming Queen in 1977, and was awarded the Joyce Smith Weathers Award at graduation. DeeDee was Azalea Festival Teenage Princess in 1978. She was graduated from East Carolina University in 1982, and was a member of the Homecoming Court, Pi Kappa Phi Little Sister, and President of Chi Omega Sorority. She served as a Wardrobe Consultant at Belk-Beery from high school until after college graduation, then various other retail stores in the Wilmington area, including Montaggio and R. Bryan and Company. In 1985, she was named one of the Best-dressed Women in Wilmington by the Star-News. She taught Fashion Merchandising at Miller Motte Business College and contributed fashion-related articles to Encore, a local magazine. She married Fred Wright, a local Marine Surveyor, in 1985, and resided in Wilmington until the family moved to Weddington, NC, recently returning to reside Wright on the Water at Ward's Bluff; Hideaway Shores, Hampstead. Mother to Caitlin Wright Veale (James) and Hannah Wright Miller (Chad) and Nana to James Joseph Veale and Theodore Henry Veale. Increasingly deaf from youth; DeeDee received a cochlear implant in 2003 which restored her hearing. She eventually began a 17-year career with Cochlear Corporation, inventors of the cochlear implant. She is survived by her husband Fred, children Caitlin and Hannah, grandchildren JJ and Theo, her sister Lisa Ward Thompson of Raleigh, her father David Ward and his wife Joan of Wilmington, stepfather Paul Dee Monroe of Cornelius, NC, mother-in-law Judy Wright of Oak Island, niece Kelly Thompson May (Matt), stepsisters Nicole Hager (Rod), Laura Landau (Mitch), Reagan Hawker (Tom), and stepbrother Shannon Monroe (Andrea), numerous other beloved family members, colleagues, friends and neighbors, who will miss her and cherish her memory. An excellent life; well lived. Remembered forever. A funeral service will be held at 2:00PM Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at Andrews Market Street Chapel with Rev. Henry Carroll officiating. Prior to the service, the family will receive friends from 1:00PM until the service hour. Interment will follow in Oleander Memorial Gardens, 306 Bradley Drive, Wilmington, NC 28409. Share online condolences with the family, here, in the guestbook.