Denise Renee Chaffin, lovingly known as Dee, was called home to her Lord and Savior on May 21, 2026, while in hospice care at DeLand Hospital. She was 55 years old.

Born in Daytona Beach, Florida, to Charles Jacobs and Dell (Whitney) Hoecke, Dee lived a life marked by kindness, humor, faith, and a deep devotion to her family and community.

For more than twenty years, Dee proudly served with the Volusia Sheriff’s Office. She began her career in the Records Department and later continued her service at the District 6 Office. She was known for her dedication, her reliability, and her ability to brighten even the hardest days with a joke or a smile. She remained committed to her work until illness forced her into retirement.

Dee leaves behind her daughter Samantha, her son John, her husband Joe, her mother, her granddaughters Harmony and Bailey, her brothers Jim, Shaun, and David, and her sisters Chris and Kayla. She also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends who loved her deeply. She was preceded in death by her first husband — our dad — who passed on March 22, 2024, as well as her father Charles and her dad Jim.

Dee was a warm, loving, family-centered soul who carried her faith with her in every part of her life. She loved God deeply and cherished her church family. She was the person people turned to — steady, comforting, and always ready with a hug that made the world feel lighter.

She adored doing crafts, even if she joked that she “wasn’t good at them,” and she loved teasing that I had to take away her access to tape, glue, and scissors. Her humor, her dorky little quirks, and her ability to laugh at herself made her unforgettable.

Outside of her crafts and her family, Dee found joy in simple, peaceful things. She loved fishing, tending to her little garden, and spending time with her beloved dog, Pudge, who was her loyal shadow and constant companion.

She was funny, gentle, a little goofy, and endlessly loving. She was the kind of person who made life softer just by being in it.

She was warmth. She was laughter. She was home.

A celebration of Dee’s life is being planned for a future date, and details will be shared with family and friends once arrangements are finalized.