Annette M. Collette

Annette M. Collette
December 26, 1936 - July 25, 2020

Annette passed away at home on Saturday, July 25, 2020, holding her daughter’s hand. She fought a brave battle for many years against Vascular Dementia. Although Annette had forgotten most people and events in her life, and many of her words, she still remembered her daughter, granddaughter, and son-in-law until the day she died; telling them daily “I love you.”

Annette was born on December 26, 1936 at St. John’s Hospital, Long Island City, NY, to Alfred and Anna Collette. Her father died when she was still a young girl and her mother married Frank T. Gabson in 1944. She attended PS 78 Queens (Class of 1950) and graduated from Jamaica Vocational High School (NY) in 1954.

She had a lifelong passion for dancing and became a professional ballroom dance instructor in New York City, where she also studied ballet. Annette lived in multiple states over the decades and taught ballroom dance and ballet almost everywhere she lived. She even choreographed and led dance groups that performed for special events. She was still dancing until a couple of weeks before she passed away, and when she became too weak to dance, she tapped her feet or fingers to music.

Annette was married three times. She was left a widow by her first husband; they had no children. She met her second husband, Frederick Allen, at a dance club in New York. They married and had a daughter, Laura. After they divorced, she remarried once more, and became the stepmother of Kevin, who was four years older than Laura. She loved Kevin as much as she loved Laura, and always considered him her son, even after divorcing his father many years later.

In 1983, Annette and her family moved to Boise and she divorced her third husband shortly after. Annette worked three jobs to support her and her daughter during her daughter’s senior year of high school. A neighbor introduced Annette and Laura to Mark McFall during the summer of 1983, and although it would be 18 years later, he became the father of her only grandchild, Arianna. She was always fond of him and thought of him as family.

She became her mother’s caregiver in the late 1980s. Although her mother lived in independent senior living, and later assisted living, Annette made it a priority to take her to doctor’s appointments and on as many outings as possible. Annette spent ten years as her mother’s caregiver and simultaneously worked a full-time job, until her mother passed away in her arms on December 22, 1997.

Annette spent many years working at Boise State University and taking classes; she enjoyed a variety of classes, especially from the History Department. Annette retired from the Boise State University Library in December of 1998. After retiring, Annette was able to travel including cruises in Southeast Asia, Mexico, and on a schooner in the San Juan Islands. She also traveled to Disneyworld and St. George, Utah on vacations with her daughter and granddaughter. Annette was also an international storyteller and a member of Toastmasters.

Annette cared for her granddaughter while her daughter worked, and Arianna has many wonderful memories of going to the library and cooking with her. She has inherited her grandmother’s green thumb and love of cooking. In 2010, Annette gained a son-in-law when her daughter married Justin Wade, and she was a witness at the courthouse wedding. She approved of him, because he rode a Harley.

In 2016, Annette was diagnosed with Vascular Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Annette lived with her daughter and her family until June of 2019 when it became apparent that she was unable to be left alone during the day. At that time, she moved into the memory care unit of Veranda Senior Living at Paramount. Annette was placed on hospice with Doctor’s Hospice of Idaho shortly before assisted living centers stopped allowing visitors due to COVID. After trying one visit through the window, her daughter and family chose to move Annette home, as her daughter and granddaughter were now home all day to watch her and help her.

Annette is survived by her daughter, Laura Allen-Wade; son-in-law, Justin Wade; granddaughter, Arianna Allen; and her beloved dog, Angel (all of Nampa). She is also survived by her older sister, Rosilda Garson of New York, and several nephews, including Steve Roddey of California. Annette was preceded in death by her son, Kevin; her parents; her step-father; her infant brother Leon; her first husband; and multiple friends.

Annette’s family wishes to thank Doctor’s Hospice of Idaho for the love and support for Annette and her family during her final months and especially her final days and minutes; their kindness and caring made it possible to care for Annette even during the hardest times. The family would also like to thank the staff at Veranda Senior Living at Paramount for the love and care she received while she lived there.

A memorial service will be held on August 6, 2020 at 7:00 PM at the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, 415 12th Ave S, Nampa, ID 83651.

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