Diane "Dee" Abate

Diane Abate “Dee” passed peacefully on December 3, 2024, at the age of 89. Dee was born September 2, 1935, to parents Melvin and Dorothy Waggoner. She lived in San Francisco until age 4, while her father completed his job as a construction worker on the Golden Gate Bridge. The family then moved to Napa where she lived the rest of her life.

Dee attended St. John’s Catholic School, graduated from Napa High School, Napa Junior College and San Jose State University. She began dating the love of her life, Valentino “Tino” Abate of Napa, while completing her studies in Education at San Jose State University. After graduating from college Dee returned home, married Tino in 1959, moved into their new home and began their life together. Dee and Tino were devoted to one another and their family. Days were filled with playing tennis, bridge or watching their children playing their own team sports. Dee and Tino enjoyed vacationing with their family and friends at Pine Grove, and long weekends together in San Francisco and Carmel. Dee’s love for the theater continued throughout her whole life. Tino passed when Dee was only 55 years old, but her love and devotion to him never faltered.

For most of her 35-year career Dee taught the fourth grade at Mt. George Elementary School. Her love for teaching and for her students changed many young lives. She always encouraged her students to imagine that they could succeed at anything. She was devoted to not only their education but their self-confidence, and she always encouraged kindness and love towards others. Her students would often return to her with stories of how she changed their lives, and even decades after she had taught them, letters would arrive with their stories. The sentiment was always the same: you were my favorite teacher, you changed my life, you gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. Teaching young children was always an honor and a joy for Dee. She was honored in 1987 as a Teacher of the Year, and in her first three years of retirement Dee was a mentor to many new young teachers.

Dee was a wonderful friend to all that knew her, a fantastic listener, and a woman who lived her life with elegance and gusto. Her friendships spanned over 80 plus years with a special group since grade school. She especially enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and overseas with “the Girls” leaving a wake of laughter and amazing memories.

Dee had a terrific sense of humor and a hearty laugh. Her storytelling was infamous, sometimes involving changed storylines, and words to songs that were suspicious, but she always had the ability to laugh at herself. She brought great joy to many. We, who loved her will always remember her for her laughter, kindness and love. Our mother will be forever loved and missed, but we are comforted knowing she is reunited again with our father. Dee is survived by her son Michael and his wife Lorraine, daughter Julie, grandchild Valentino “Tino” with partner Gigi and grandchild Niccolo “Nicky”.

Memorial mass will be held at Tulocay Cemetery Chapel on Friday, January 17th at 11am followed by a reception in the hall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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