Annetta M Vaccarella

She is survived by her husband, Leon Vaccarella, daughter Glenda (James) Jeter, sons Joe (Sherrie)

Vaccarella and Anthony Vaccarella, six grandchildren: Krysten (Coy) Chastain, David Vaccarella, LeeAnn (Matthew) Price, Jay Vaccarella, Leslee (Kris) Henning, and Bryan Vaccarella; and 10 great grandchildren Katelynn and Karsyn Vaccarella, Jace Vaccarella, Wyatt, Jolee, Oliver, and August Henning, LilyAnn and Samuel Price, and Kyndle Chastain.

Annetta was born August 1, 1926, in Burlington, Kansas. She would often recount stories of a wonderful childhood. Even though she grew up during the depression, she never felt deprived. Everyone was “in the same boat”. She loved to talk about the pancake suppers and the dances in the community’s park pavilion.

Her father was in the Army, so she moved several times. She loved life and embraced the opportunity to see new places and make new friends. She loved music and could play the violin, the accordion, and the piano. She liked to sing, and at one time, she sang in a girl’s quartet on the radio. And dance! How she loved to dance (ballroom dancing). . She and her husband Leon could clear the floor when they stepped out onto the dance floor as others stepped back to watch.

Her husband, Leon Vaccarella, was the love of her life. They celebrated 74 years of marriage last May. Annetta met “Vacc” in Germany after WW2. She was there with her family because her father was stationed there. The young Lt. Leon Vaccarella was stationed at the same base. They met at a large function on the military base, dated, and then married on May 30, 1948.

Annetta loved her family and her main goal in life was to raise a family of her own. She accomplished her goal and was content and satisfied. She always said she had no regrets and that she enjoyed living in whatever circumstances, wherever they were during the years. She was a good military wife and followed Vacc wherever he went…. State to state and base to base. Together, they raised three children, daughter Glenda and sons Tony and Joe. “Making a home” for her family was an art she mastered well. She and Vacc loved entertaining, and their home was a place where others always felt welcome. They eventually settled in Wichita Falls where Lt. Col Leon Vaccarella retired from the USAF at Sheppard AFB. They bought a home, put down roots and continued to raise their family. Annetta and Vacc lived in that home for 60 years. She saw her family grow and multiply as their children married, and then she had six grandchildren she lavishly loved and spoiled. Then came 10 great grandchildren she adored. She loved with her whole heart, unconditionally. She embraced every phase of life and was thankful for every day. Her strong faith was at the very core of her being and she instilled that faith in her children and grandchildren and shared it with others. She was baptized at the age of 12 in Kansas. She was involved in her church from teaching Sunday school to preparing and serving spaghetti suppers for various groups. With an Italian name like Vaccarella, who else would you call???

She was a wonderful cook. She loved the family pets… cats, dogs, canaries, and assorted wildlife such as turtles and rabbits. She loved watching the birds at various feeders from her kitchen window. She liked her plants and flowers and her green thumb served her well. Two of her favorite sayings were “can’t never did anything” and “never ever give up”. And she never gave up until her body did. She fought the good fight until the very end. But after suffering a stroke in March 2022, her body began to fail. The pain became unbearable, and she surrendered her life to Jesus and waited patiently for Him to come and take her home. Her family will miss her presence, her smiles, her encouragement, and words of wisdom and most of all her hugs and love in our daily lives, but we rejoice in her salvation and knowing she is singing and dancing in His presence and to His glory forever…until we meet again.

Her family would like to thank all those who prayed for her and

for us as we learn to live life holding on to all that she taught us and clinging to the same faith in God that she shared.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the staff at Brookdale Sikes Lake Assisted Living and to Hospice of Wichita Falls for their compassionate care.

Please continue to keep our father and our families in prayer.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Hospice of Wichita Falls

4909 Johnson Rd

Wichita Falls, Texas 76310

or

First Christian Church

3701 Taft Blvd

Wichita Falls, Texas 76308

A visitation for Annetta will be held Sunday, December 11, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 1917 Archer City Highway, Wichita Falls, Texas 76302. A funeral service will occur Monday, December 12, 2022 at 10:00 AM at First Christian Church, 3701 Taft Blvd, Wichita Falls, Texas 76308. A graveside service will occur Thursday, December 15, 2022 at 11:00 AM at DFW National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hamptonvaughancrestview.com for the Vaccarella family.