Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, and friend, Annette Lena Tate (née Paciotti) passed away peacefully in Yuma, Arizona on April 17, 2025 at the age of 99 surrounded by her family. Annette was pre-deceased by her husband of 19 years, Robert Tate, of Yuma.
Annette was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia on February 22, 1926, to Giovanni and Angela Paciotti. Her father was an Italian immigrant and her mother a first generation Italian American. They were members of the proud Italian diaspora in Clarksburg. Shortly after her graduation from Victory High School, Annette left her beloved Clarksburg and moved to Yuma, Arizona with her parents. Once in Yuma, Annette would eventually meet and marry her husband in 1952. For the rest of her life, Annette would look back lovingly on her childhood in West Virginia, where she was surrounded by her friends and family.
Annette embodied the resilience of the Greatest Generation and dedicated her life in service to her family, her community, and her faith. She served as a candy striper during World War II, worked as a telephone operator, volunteered at the Assistance League of Yuma for thirteen years, and was a devout member of the Catholic Church and Immaculate Conception parish.
Annette is survived by her four children and their families: John Tate and wife Kathie; Juli Peach, husband John, children John and Jared; Annette Sims, husband Mike, children Angela, Rachel, and Leslie; David Tate, wife Paulette, children David and Robert. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Archer, Karsyn, Eleanor, Theodore, Dakota, and Dyllan. In addition, she is survived by a cousin, Mark Blonstein, and two nieces and four nephews: Toni Bowman Curtis, Cami Byrd Agena, Mark Bowman, Trey, Bret, and Josh Shepard.
Funeral services will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Yuma on May 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM preceded by a Rosary at 10:30 AM
Donations in memoriam may be made to the Assistance League of Yuma at assistanceleague.org/yuma/donate.
