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Prejetta Gaye Deniston

Long Beach, CA, USA

January 15, 1930 - April 9, 2018

Jan 15, 1930 - Apr 9, 2018

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Prejetta Gaye Deniston was born on January 15, 1930 in Los Angeles, California to Blanche and Oscar Hoglund. She was the youngest sibling to Sisters Helen and Darlene and Brother William (Bill). She fondly recalled growing up in Depression era Los Angeles with her family and though it was a struggle for many families at the time, Gaye (or Prejetta as Oscar preferred to call her) never wanted for anything and recalled lovingly sharing with those in need her family’s humble surplus.
Gaye continued to grow up during the tumultuous war years, doing the best she could to help around home and community. She was lucky enough to study piano and voice and quickly became adept at filling her home with beautiful music. She grew into a beautiful young woman as the war was winding down and with the millions of brave soldiers and sailors returning home, it wasn’t long before she caught the eye of one of these exceptional young men. On June 17. 1950 Prejetta Gaye married Norman Dal Deniston, a young handsome sailor working at the Los Angeles harbor. Together they set out on a 51 year journey to build a household and a family based upon love of life, adventure, challenges and togetherness.
Married life in Long Beach, California welcomed the addition of four children into their home; Norman Bradley, Donna Lynn, Richard Hoglund and Bruce Dal. As Norman was often away at sea, Gaye took on full parenting duties many times and did not disappoint, as the family was always taking day trips to the beach, the park or the nearby mountains.
Gaye was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many leadership callings during her lifetime. She was perhaps the senior member of the Lakewood First Ward/Woodruff Ward having been in attendance there for nearly sixty years and at one point or another holding many callings including, Relief Society President, Primary President and Young Women President as well as many teaching and support callings. She also worked at the Los Angeles Temple and supported her full-time missionary sons. She carried her love for music into her active church life and was a long time member of her Ward and Stake Choirs where she sang beautifully during each Christmas and Easter celebration.
Prejetta Gaye loved music of all kinds from Broadway to The Beatles to the Boston Pops—at her house there was always a melody playing. And there is hardly any friend of hers who can’t say they haven’t been to see a live Broadway musical or play with her. In her later years, she especially enjoyed taking her grandchildren to see the stage production of Peter Pan. She and Norman loved to travel together and visited many parts of the country. Gaye was also an avid baseball fan, especially in her later years, and rarely missed watching her beloved Angels on television. Gaye was also an avid animal lover and she loved her many pets. She own a variety of dogs and cats throughout her life from which she received a great deal of companionship.
Prejetta Gaye Deniston passed away on April 9, 2018 and is preceded in death by her parents Oscar Moreno and Blanche Mae (Strong) Hoglund; her husband of 51 years Norman Dal Deniston; siblings Helen and William and is survived by her sister Darlene.
She is survived by her four children Norman Bradley, Donna Lynn Rose-Anschuetz, Richard Hoglund and Bruce Dal Deniston.
She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren Brian Gustafson, Gregory Gustafson, Angel Deniston, Robin Rose-Rice, Levi Deniston, Kevin Gustafson, Stephen Rose, Devin (Deniston) Kaas, Tyler Deniston, Summer Rose, Chelsea (Deniston) Carle, Sean Deniston, Griffin Deniston, Brooke Deniston and seventeen Great-grandchildren. She is interred next to her soul-mate at Forest Lawn Cypress. Cypress, California.

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