Denise Ann Engro

Denise Ann Engro, age 70, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, with her family by her side. She was born on October 14, 1954 in Erie, daughter of the late Angelo and Joan (Timon) Engro.

After graduating from Strong Vincent High School in 1972, Denise attended cosmetology school. Along with her twin sister Debby, she opened Gemini Hairworks in 1975, and for the last 26 years, the two co-owned Studio 3 Salon. Denise had a long and successful career as a hairstylist with many dedicated clients. In addition, she enjoyed kickboxing and was an avid fitness instructor at several studios over the years. Denise also adored cats and was a loving cat mom to ten feline friends over the course of her lifetime. 

Denise was a kind, fun, and joyous woman who lit up a room with her smile and laughter. Affectionately known as Niecy, she will forever be remembered as a loving wife, daughter, sister, twin, and aunt. However, her greatest impact in life was the unconditional love and support she provided as a mother to Natalie and, most recently, grandmother to Luca. She will be dearly missed by her friends and family. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard A. Way.

She is survived by her daughter, Natalie Swabb (husband, Mark Nicholas); her sisters, Kathleen Engro, Deborah Swabb (husband, Gregory), Karen Engro (husband, Jules Lobel), and Angela Fatica (husband, Christopher); her brothers, Anthony Engro (wife, Lisa) and Stephen Engro; and her grandson, Luca Nicholas. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, including those to whom she was a second mother, John and Emma Swabb. 

Friends are invited to a visitation on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, 6101 East Lake Road, from 9:30-11:00 a.m. and a Memorial Service there at 11:00 a.m. Inurnment will be privately held at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Erie Humane Society (www.eriehumanesociety.org/donate) or the Benedictine Sisters of Erie (https://eriebenedictines.org/support/).