Mary Charlene Vanatta

ones.

Charlene was born on August 16th, 1934 in Joplin, Missouri to William O. and Mary A. Brooke.

She was the first born of ten children. She grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas and enjoyed

watching her father coach her brothers playing baseball in the summers.

Charlene helped out at her fathers janitorial supply store and also worked as a sales clerk at the

local department store. She graduated from St. Teresa’s High School and soon after met her

future husband, Edgar Lee Vanatta. They wed on November 18, 1953 at St. Teresa Catholic

Church.

Charlene gave birth to her first child which happened to be the same day and same hospital in

which her mother gave birth to her last child. Charlene and Lee moved to Pueblo, Colorado

where their six other children were born. The family then moved to Colorado Springs where

Charlene and Lee raised their children. During her time in Colorado Springs, Charlene worked

as a doctor's assistant for several years and also worked as a credit reporter. She was a very

active member of Holy Trinity Church.

After the death of Lee Vanatta, Charlene moved to Denver to care for her mother. She worked

for the Denver Public school system as a paraprofessional/job coach for special needs students.

While there she joined the Saint Vincent De Paul parish and enjoyed being a Eucharistic

minister. Upon retiring Charlene moved back to Colorado Springs to be with her children,

grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed an active life with her YMCA and bunko

friends.

Charlene was preceded in death by her husband Edgar Lee Vanatta, sisters Nancy Meade and

Phyllis McClard and her oldest son Richard Vanatta. She is survived by her seven siblings:

William Brooke Jr, Ralph Brooke, Susie Cussen, Maxine Stephenson, Jeanette Thompson, Jim

Brooke, and Steve Brooke. She also leaves behind six children: Robert Vanatta, Thomas

Vanatta, Gary Vanatta, Scott Vanatta, Mike Vanatta, and Sheryl (Vanatta) Ortiz, eight

grandchildren: Bonnie Vigil and Max Vanatta, Robert, Thomas, and Cole Vanatta, Kurtis Vanatta

and Kaitie Compton, Meg Ortiz and six great grandchildren: Carmelita Vigil, Addie Compton,

Shan, Ethan, and Damien Vanatta, and Vivian Vanatta in addition to many nieces and nephews.

On April 15, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. there will be a Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart of Mary Church,

6739 S. Boulder Rd. #101, Boulder, CO 80303 followed by the interment of cremains.

Reception will follow the service/interment.