Mrs. Denise Talbot Arnold

July 30, 1956 - June 30, 2018

Denise Erin Talbot Arnold, 61, of Tallahassee, passed away on Saturday, June 30, 2018. A daughter of the late Adrian Alfred George Talbot and the late Georgette Marcelle Beaudet Talbot, she was born in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts on July 30, 1956. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband and love of her life, Charles Mark Arnold and her beloved niece, Sarah Talbot Wilson. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy, and worked for the state of Florida for more than 31 years in the developmental disabilities field. She was employed as Deputy Director of Programs for the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, where she directly assisted tens of thousand of individuals, always mindful of including self-advocates in everything the agency did. Her passion was contagious and unwavering for people with developmental disabilities. Co-workers described her as, “the heart and soul of the Agency.” Denise had an amazing sense of humor and the incredible ability to see the good in everyone she met. Her friends and family remember her fearless way of loving everyone uniquely. Through the many challenges in her life she always chose joy and to live by her late husband’s mantra, “Life is Good.” Her love was the purest love. A divine love. Words can’t begin to describe how deeply she will be missed. She filled her life with music and singing, hiking, kayaking, gardening, reading, loving animals, and traveling. The absolute light of her life were her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Christine Arnold (fiancé, Jeff Azcona), Lauren Smith (Dylan), David Arnold (Francesca), Mark Arnold, and Belinda Arnold (Mark MacDonald); grandchildren, Ashley Arnold, Caterina Arnold, Stella MacDonald, Jolie MacDonald, Maeve MacDonald, Nora Smith and Mark Smith; and her siblings, Maureen Miller (C.A), Bette Talbot (Collie Rouyer), Bob Talbot (Diane Hartsfield), Suzy Wilson (Bill) and Tina Talbot (Andy Beers). Also surviving are beloved nieces, nephews and countless friends. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM, Thursday, July 5, 2018, at Abbey Funeral Home. The funeral is 2:00 PM, Friday, July 6, 2018, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church. A private family interment will be at Tallahassee Memory Gardens. Memorial donations may be made to The Denise Arnold Self-Advocacy Scholarship Fund. Checks should be sent to the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council. Online condolences may be expressed at www.abbeyfh.com.