Denise Leigh "Williams" Carleton passed away on August 27, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 65, surrounded by the family and friends she loved so deeply after a courageous battle with breast cancer.

Born on January 26, 1961, Denise built a life defined above all else by her love for other people. She was a devoted wife, an endlessly loving and proud mother and grandmother, a caring sister and aunt, and the kind of friend who made people feel like family. She had an incredible ability to bring people together, make an occasion feel special, and find joy in both the big celebrations and the smallest traditions.

Anyone who knew Denise knew how much she loved a party. Birthdays, holidays, showers, or just about any other excuse would do. She loved a theme, and no gathering was complete without games-whether the guests were children or adults. For Denise, these celebrations were never really about the decorations or the games themselves. They were about having the people she loved together in one place, laughing and making memories.

Her advent calendars became one of the traditions her family and friends cherished most. Denise would shop throughout the year, always on the lookout for the perfect little items to tuck inside. And, in typical Denise fashion, the tradition quickly grew beyond her own family. Her sons' friends and roommates often found themselves receiving calendars of their own. That was Denise: if you were important to someone she loved, before long, you were important to her too. She also loved shopping and took tremendous satisfaction in finding a great deal. Denise was known to leave the price tag on a gift-not because she wanted anyone to know what she spent, but because she wanted them to see how little she had managed to spend.

Denise spent more than 25 years at Dunkin' Donuts Corporate, where she created lifelong bonds that transcended the workplace. She took great pride not only in her own work, but in mentoring others, encouraging them to grow and always pushing them toward excellence.

When cancer eventually forced Denise to step away from work, she traveled with family and friends, made new memories, volunteered to help others facing cancer, and continued to embrace life throughout years of treatment. Additionally, Denise became a Pilates fanatic, often completing two-a-day sessions despite the physical toll of her treatments.

Denise is survived by her husband, Dan Carleton of Plymouth, Massachusetts; her son and daughter-in-law, Jake and Emily Carleton of Charlestown, Massachusetts; her son, Cooper Carleton of Brooklyn, New York; and her beloved granddaughter, Eloise Joy Carleton of Charlestown, Massachusetts.

She is also survived by her sister, Allison Luisi, and her husband, Gary, of Hyde Park; in-laws Mary Ann and Tim Sullivan of Milton and Tish and Michael Connolly of Dorchester; her best friend, Shelley Fuller and her husband John of Scottsdale, Arizona; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Allan and Connie Williams.

Most of all, Denise will be remembered as a wife, a mom, a grandmother, a sister, an aunt, and a friend who loved her people fiercely and found so many ways-big and small-to show it. Those traditions, stories, and memories will continue to bring smiles and laughter, even as she is missed beyond words.

The Carleton family wants to extend an immense amount of gratitude to Denise's care team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and to all of her caretakers at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Funeral arrangements will be under the care of the Bartlett Funeral Home, 338 Court Street, Plymouth. A viewing will be held on September 12, 2026, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life get together will follow from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Plymouth Country Club, 221 Warren Ave in Plymouth.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the charity of your choice that means something near and dear to your heart.