Denise Susanne Lacallade Dunn passed away unexpectedly on June 28, 2026. She was born in Houston, Texas and came out as sassy as she lived her life. (She came out butt first.) From an early age she paved her own path, spread contagious joy and created lifelong friendships with those around her.

In her younger years, Denise was rarely far from the center of a celebration. She loved music, trips with friends, backyard parties, hot tub hopping and making people laugh until they couldn’t catch their breath. Those who knew her then remember her as the life of the party.

Life, however, was hard on Denise and after the challenges, she found comfort not in crowds but in quiet moments with her trusted family and friends. Those of us in that inner circle know her capacity to care for others never diminished. If anything, it grew deeper. Her kindness became quieter, shown through direct 1:1 interactions, thoughtful gestures, and simply being present for the people she loved. Her generous spirit went out to her community as well, as she did things like reach out to help neighbors when they were in need.

Denise was a graduate of Texas A&M and was a die-hard Aggie fan. From planning her fall around football, to keeping the spirit alive, to actively recruiting the next generation of Aggies… she had more maroon than any other color in her closet.

Above all else Denise was devoted to her sons Jacob and Dylan. They were the light of her life and the center of her world. She is also survived by her parents Betsy and Chuck Lacallade, her sister Dawn Lacallade and her wife Wendy, and an incredible group of lifelong friends whose lives were forever changed by her warmth, generosity, and unmistakable sense of humor. We will forever hear her laughter in our memories.

Her absence leaves an immeasurable space in our lives, but so does the love she gave so freely. Every laugh shared around a dinner table over a card game, every Aggie game watched, and every simple act of kindness will remind us that Denise’s greatest legacy was the way she loved others.