Mary Anne Abbate

mary anne abbate

December 6, 1929 ~ August 14, 2018


Resided in: Colorado Springs, Colorado

Mary Anne Abbate, 88, passed away Aug. 14, 2018. Survived by her sister, Josephine Goolsby of Sun City West, Ariz.; sister-in-law, Kathryn Abbate; and 13 nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents, Tony and Annie Abbate; siblings, Santo (Betty) Abbate; Joseph Abbate and Rose (John) Costanza; and brother-in-law, David Goolsby. Mary Anne was born Dec. 6, 1929, and was a lifetime Pueblo resident. She graduated from Pueblo Central High School, Western State College with a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in history and library science; she also earned a Master's Degree from Denver University. She taught for District 60 at Risley and Corwin Middle Schools, retiring in 1989. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, OWLS, Pueblo Retired School Employees Association, Assistance League of Pueblo and Holy Family Church. Mary Anne considered her extended family to be the many students she taught during her 35 years as a teacher and truly worked hard to be a positive influence in their lives. Funeral Mass, 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at St. Pius X, 3130 Morris Ave. Interment, Roselawn Cemetery. Memorial may be made to PAWS for Life or Assistance League of Pueblo through Montgomery & Steward Funeral Directors, 1317 N. Main St., Pueblo, CO 81003. Online condolences, www.montgomerysteward.com

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  1. My deepest sympathies to Ms. Abbates’ family.
    It was truly a beautiful service.
    She taught me the Dewey Decimal system while I was 1 of many of her students working along side of her in the library at Risley.
    We became reunited at King Soopers after she had retired, became good friends.
    She preferred that I call her Mary Anne, but “Ms. Abbate” fell out more often than Mary Anne. It always made her giggle.
    I will miss her deeply.

  2. I am so sorry to hear of Miss. Abbate’s passing. She was my teacher at Corwin Middle school. I had the amazing opportunity to care for in 2015 and 2016. I enjoyed reminiscing with her. She will forever hold a special place in my heart. Rest in peace Miss. Abbate

  3. It has been too many years since I crossed paths with Miss Abbate. But I vividly remember her from our days at Risley. She was the librarian and a good teacher. I regret that I didn’t appreciate her more.

    What I remember most is her no-nonsense approach to the etiquette and protocols of the library, that they should be respected and observed. I also remember that she also had a good sense of humor but shared it only in conversations overheard between herself and other teachers. With students, she was mostly (not a library pun), ‘by the book.’

    In any case, it has been too many years. But they have not dimmed my recollection of what I’m certain was a lovely person. Again, I’m sorry I was just a face in the crowd and did not reap the benefits of the academic treasures she knew and cared about.

  4. Miss Abbate was my favorite teacher throughout junior high. While many students thought she was mean and strict, to me she was just the opposite.
    She tended to chose 1-2 students a year to “work” for her, and I had that honor for 3 years. My jobs ranged from shelving to check in/out, to categorizing new books according to the Dewey Decimal system, and lots of typing of catalogue cards. She paid me to work for her in the summers, and got me out of a lot of other classes to help during school hours. She reinforced my love of reading and of books, and as my first employer, taught me the values of hard work. I have thought of her often over many years. May she rest in peace–with a good book in her hands, I hope!


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