Elke Abate, age 78, loving mother of three, passed away on Thursday the 3rd of November, after a courageous battle with stomach cancer. True to her nature, she was a warrior till the very end.

Elke was born in 1944, in post war Frellstedt, Germany. She was born into a large loving family. Her father, Paul, a career coal miner and mother, Anna Eckhardt, a loving homemaker.

She married Staff Sargent Frank Abate of the USAF at the young age of 19. Elke demonstrated courage, strength and perseverance throughout her lifetime.

A tuberculosis survivor at age 5.

A young mother that spoke no English, left all that she knew behind to follow her military husband to the US.

A widow at 34, she went on to raise 3 young daughters who all became successful in the healthcare field…she was very proud.

She went back to school in her 40's to gain her high school diploma and then went on to earn an AA in the Legal Sciences.

She was a fighter and never gave up. Entering the work force at a late age, she encountered many challenges, but she did not give up. Instead, she created and ran her own business, Modern German Lace. She imported and sold beautiful handmade things from her native country.

Elke was a lover of beautiful things, both old and small. She was an avid collector of antiques that she called "her treasures"and a very talented miniature Artisan.

Elke is survived by her three daughters: Angela, Monika, Tanya and their families.

We believe her greatest legacy was the multitude of individuals that truly loved, adored, trusted and respected her. She was a Fairy Godmother to most!

We know that we can't have you, but we're happy knowing that the Angels have finally gotten you back. Goodbye to an amazing woman and an adoring mother.

There will be a wake at Lakeside Funeral Home on Monday, November 7th, from 6-8pm. The Funeral Service will be held at St Catherine's Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 8th at 12pm noon.

Elke loved flowers, with the exception of Lillies. Please NO LILLIES 🙏🏻. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to either St Jude's or the Wounded Warrior Project.