F6
Birth
Place
Deceased
Place
Denise Ann Randel
 2/9/1955
Marysville, KS
2/26/2007
Hays, KS
Raul Miranda
 
Mexico City, Mexico
 
 
   
Married:
 8/30/1997
   
F7
F8
  
  About Denise:
Offspring:
b.
d.
  
  1st marriage:  Douglas Mix
2nd marriage: Jay Swander
3rd marriage: Raul Miranda
Jessica Rae Swander
     
 
Ezra Swander
     
 
     
         
         
         

Denise Ann Randel
Feb. 26, 2007
Denise Ann Randel, 52, Hays, died Saturday, Feb. 24, 2007, at St. John's Nursing Home of Hays.
She was born Feb. 9, 1955, in Marysville, to Raymond Dale and Gwendolyn Irene (Cassity) Randel.
She received her master’s degree in art from Kansas State University.
She married Raul Miranda on Aug. 30, 1997, in Las Vegas. She had taught English as a second language at Fort Hays.
Survivors include her husband, of the home; a son Ezra N. Swander, Hays; a daughter, Jessica R. Roberds, La Crosse; seven brothers, Milton Randel of Fayetteville, N.C., Raymond Randel, Scranton, Stephen Randel. Topeka, Michael Randel, El Granada, Calif., Dennis Randel, Frankfort, John Randel, Hays, and Tony Randel, Cedar Park, Texas; a sister, Vonda a Johnson, Van Meter, Iowa; and four grandchildren.
Inurnment is planned with a memorial service at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Center, Hays, in care of Smith-Moore-Overlease Funeral Home 723 N. First, Stockton, Kansas 678669.
Memories of "DC" by her sister Vonda (Randel) Johnson:

"Elsa wanted me to write her about DC's last days and it occurred to me that each of us now has memories of the personal time we spent with her, so I thought I'd share mine.  DC wanted to be cremated and have her friends and family distribute her ashes in different places close to her heart.  The memorial is being planned to get as many of her friends and family together as possible." 

"She had been in the hospital a week when they called us to come down.  I had called every night and the 4th night she had to hang up, not able to speak anymore. The next night she couldn't get on the phone at all. The first time Gary and I went in to see her she put her hands over her eyes and said, " I'm dying Von."  Even then I didn't believe it and told her how strong she was and that she'd be going home."
  
"After the DNR was signed and they were ready to move her out of ICU, they told us to say our goodbyes, that she would be too drugged to respond from that point. Little did they know DC.  She refused all but the smallest dose of morphine and in the next 3 (or 4 days-you lose track) her bravery and sense of humor in the face of all this really came out." 

"All of her siblings came to be with her and she visited with us all. She had friends come from as far as Georgia to say goodby. The friend from Georgia was Jimmy, who drove up with his wife of 25 years. When he was introducing himself to me, he said he first met DC in 1977 and had been in love with her ever since. I just sat there with my mouth open.  Later I was saying what a compliment that was and DC said, 'He's always been a dyed-in-the-wool sentimentalist.'"   

"His wife Deb said he told her of his feelings for DC from the start and she just figured that having known DC made Jimmy the man she married. She said she knew it was too weird for most people to understand, but I personally was just grateful for them to be there.  Jimmy had a very calming influence on DC when she had panic attacks-which were often because the cancer had gotten into her lungs. When you can't get your breath you panic, I don't care how brave you are."   

"Her sense of humor really amazed me-little things like wanting a drink of pop and saying, " I gave up this up because its bad for you, you know.", or when I came back from a little break and was saying that I hadn't even asked her if she would like a Coke, to which she thought for a second and quietly replied, "Selfish bitch." Jimmy said his goodbyes at the hospital and discussed what going to the care home with Hospice meant with DC.  She called it the "Last Exit."  He told her how much easier it would be for her if she would take the medicine they wanted to give her. (Everything she had already been told, but better coming from him.) They drugged her up before transporting her and she never spoke again."

 "She lasted two days and left with her two kids by her side at 4:00 Saturday morning. It was a really stormy and windy night, shaking our camper outside the care home. Gary said he woke at one point and had a feeling that all that commotion was DC, leaving us." 
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