Dena M Turner

Dena Marie Turner (nee Flynn), 82, of La Plata, MD passed away on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Born February 7, 1941, in Welcome, MD she was the daughter of Charles Henry Flynn and Edith Rosalie (Scott) Flynn. As the middle child of 17 children, her life revolved around the love of her family.

In 1959, she married William A. (Billy) Turner, a marriage that lasted 62 years and blessed Dena with two children, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren (so far).

In 1958, at age 17, Dena began working at the phone company, what was then C&P Telephone and later Bell Atlantic. She worked there for 34 years before retiring in 1992 at the age of 51. That left her many happy years to spend making memories with her family.

She and Billy traveled often and enjoyed adventure. They once joined a group of friends and rode Billy’s Harley Davidson all the way to Canada and back. They frequently traveled with Dena’s
brother Roger and his wife, Cheryl, often to the cabin they owned together in West Virginia but also to places as far off as Ireland and Holland.

The family farm in Bryantown was among her favorite places in the world, and “Dena’s Cookies” were so legendary at family gatherings that they had to be hidden upon arrival to ensure that there
would be cookies left when the time came for dessert.

At her own home in Ripley, she always left the door open for friends and family — and they took advantage of her hospitality at every opportunity. She welcomed every visitor with a smile.  

Dena is preceded in death by her husband, Billy, and her son, William A. “Junior” Turner, as well as by her parents, one sister and five brothers.

She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Farrell (Jeff), grandchildren Jeanne Edelen (Greg), Brian Jones, Shelby DiMichelle (Michael) and Zachary Turner, great-grandchildren Mason, Jarrett and
Sage Edelen, Kinley Jones, Gracie Turner, Demi and Dax DiMichelle, Presleigh and Grafton Turner, as well as by two great-great-grandchildren, seven sisters and three brothers.

Friends will be received at the funeral home on Sunday, June 11, 2023, from 4-8 PM with prayers at 7 PM. Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Monday, June 12, 2023 at 11 AM. Internment will follow at the church cemetery.

Pallbearers are Brian Jones, Zachary Turner, Mason Edelen, Andy Bowie, Bobby Welch and Harry Welch.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dena M Turner, please visit our floral store.