Denise M. Garrity

Denise Mary (Grillo) Garrity, aged 68, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Throughout her journey, she displayed incredible grace and unwavering hope. Her faith and relationship with Jesus Christ are what gave her strength every morning.

Denise was born July 9, 1957, in Hibbing, MN, one of five children born to James “Jim” Grillo and Priscilla “Dolly” (Perushek) Grillo. Her childhood was filled with many fond memories with all the cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents that lived on their street in Home Acres (aka Grilloville).

She attended Hibbing schools where she met the love of her life, Bill Garrity. The two of them first met in seventh grade when fate brought them together at the same lunch table. The two dated throughout high school and graduated in 1975. Denise and Bill were married on April 16, 1977, and they were blessed by their two sons, Bill and Ryan, and their daughter, Megan.

In her younger years, Denise could be found at many sporting events as she attended every one of the sporting events for her three children. Throughout this time, she made many great friends as they cheered for their kids, and these friendships stayed with her until the end. She even had a group of friends affectionately called “Empty Nesters” made up of a group of moms after all their kids were done with high school.

Denise proudly worked for the Hibbing Public Utilities Commission for 36 years before retiring from there in 2010. She worked in the office in the billing department throughout her years there. The friendships she made working there brought her great joy.

Denise was an active member of Saint Leo’s and Blessed Sacrament churches. She volunteered at many soup suppers and bazaars. In her retirement years, she really enjoyed preparing the soups for Wednesday evenings with all the church ladies and especially with her dad, Jim.

Denise and Bill had a large group of friends and enjoyed spending their summers golfing with them, out on boat rides together, or just an evening out at a restaurant. Their love of golf was started with the help of Bill’s siblings and the annual Garrity Golf Classic, and Denise and Bill were able to pass down the love of golf to their children. Also in her retirement years, Denise became an avid gardener. She enjoyed finding the perfect perennial to add to her garden or the gardens at Swan Lake Country Club, and she enjoyed being a part of the garden club. If Denise and Bill were not out golfing in the summer, then you could have seen them out on a walk together.

An important part of Denise’s life was family gathering at the cabin each summer. This cabin was bought by her dad Jim in her childhood and became a part of her own family’s summer holidays and weekends. Fond memories were made with brothers, sisters, her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins around campfires, dipping her feet in the water when the temperature was just right, and pontoon rides around the lake. She treasured family gatherings, and her potato salad will be missed.

Denise was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was known for her selflessness, kindness, resilience, and gentle spirit. She took great pride in caring for her family, and she said that the best job she ever had was raising her children. Among all the things she accomplished in life, earning the title of “Grandma” and “Nonna” was also one of her great joys.

Denise is survived by her husband of almost 49 years Bill Garrity, Hibbing, MN, three children: Bill (Jodi) Garrity, Durham, NC, Ryan Garrity, Clayton, NC, and Megan (Blake) Ellefson, Moorhead, MN; 5 grandchildren: Payton Garrity, Lilly Garrity, Olivia Garrity, Dane Ellefson, and Rylan Ellefson; siblings: Gina Rittgers, Christine Macy, Jim Grillo, and Michael Grillo; along with numerous other nieces and nephews who lovingly called her Auntie Nisie.

She is preceded in death by her parents, James “Jim” Grillo and Priscilla “Dolly” (Perushek) Grillo and Bill’s parents, Edward Garrity and Lillian (Swanson) Garrity.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing, MN. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Father Daniel Weiske will officiate the Mass. Interment will be held at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing, MN.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation to the Angel Fund of Northeastern Minnesota, Family Life Center of the Iron Range, or order memorial trees to be planted. Denise loved to plant trees.

The Garrity family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all the amazing nurses and doctors at Essentia Hospice East Range, Essentia Clinic in Hibbing, and Mayo Clinic in Rochester that helped care for Denise over these past four years.

Arrangements are with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing, MN.