Denita "Dee" M. Reed, nee Santagato. 72, of St. Louis, Missouri, formerly of Cahokia, Illinois, born May 17, 1953 in East St. Louis, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2025 at Sherbrooke Village in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dee was a graduate of St. Teresa Academy in East St. Louis and had studied at SIUE after graduating high school.  She was very active in her community:
1976-2001 Head of Adult Services at the Cahokia Public Library; 1991-2002 SWIC Literacy Recruiter; 1991-2001 a Columnist at the Suburban Journals; 1995 helped establish the Cahokia Kiwanis group; 1997 was the President of the Cahokia School Board; 1998 she authored the book "Cahokia"; and 2001-2003 was the Mayor of Cahokia.  In 2002 Dee joined Edward Jones as a broker after passing the Series 7 and 63 exams; she then retired in 2016. In 2010, thanks to a dear friend, Ann Clayton, she received a kidney transplant.

Dee and her husband, John, visited 43 of the 50 states and 38 countries. Dee loved traveling (especially to Italy, where her ancestors were from); attending Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia, IL; the many organizations that she belonged to over the years; attending Broadway plays at the Fox Theater and St. Louis Cardinals baseball games with her family; and baking (especially her famous chocolate chip cookies).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Nicholas and Emily, nee Oresic, Santagato; a brother, Anthony (Lorraine) Santagato; and a brother-in-law, "Clarence "Ed" Price

Surviving are her husband, John R  Reed, whom she married on January 19, 1973; a son, John N. (Alana) Reed of Millstadt, IL; a brother, Nicholas (Donna) Santagato of Troy, IL; a sister, Linda Price of Rose Bud, MO; and a grandson, Griffin Reed.  She was also a dear sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and friend.

Memorials may be made to: Mid-America Transplant United, c/o Robin Baima
Carrollton Bank, 5807 Murdoch Ave, St. Louis, MO 63109

In following Denita's wishes a private cremation will be held.  Her cremated remains were buried at St. Joseph/Holy Family Cemetery in Dupo, Illinois. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 19, 2026 at the Holy Family Log Church in Cahokia, Illinois.