Genevieve Ann (Debell) Gates

Genevieve was born in Arvada, CO (Olde Town) to Michael DeBell and Mary Concetta (Astuana) DeBell. She spent her early childhood on the family farm in southeast Arvada, where celery, strawberries, and other vegetables were grown. They moved to North Denver, where she attended Edison Elementary, Skinner Junior High, and she loved participating on the downhill ski team before graduating from North High School.

She met her husband Robert (Bob) through her older brother Clyde, as they all loved skiing and served on the ski patrol at Berthoud Pass Ski Area. Bob and Genevieve were wed at Holy Family Catholic Church on September 3rd, 1955, and honeymooned in Yellowstone National Park. They lived briefly in Salt Lake City, Utah, and San Diego, California, then came home to raise their family in Arvada. Bob and Genevieve were married for 68 years. Genevieve was a homemaker, a teacher's aide, and worked in retail before assisting Bob in running the family business for 35 years.

Their house was filled with friends, neighbors, and relatives as Genevieve always smiled and made everyone feel welcome, always with an offer of food! Get-togethers were dubbed GFFs (Gates Family Function) by friends. Family activities included snow skiing, water skiing, and time in the mountains. Genevieve had a soft spot for the elderly, caring for friends and aunties. She was a generous, kind, loving lady, putting others before herself. Genevieve loved sunflowers, bright and colorful, just like her. She was a wonderful wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, auntie, cousin, and friend and will truly be missed.

She is preceded in passing by her sister, Marguerite Somma, and brother, Clyde DeBell. She is survived by her husband, Robert Gates, and children, Robert M. Gates (Dona Rae), Geraldine Gates Irvin (Brien), Karen Miller (Mark), and Roxanne Gates Daley (Sean). Grandchildren Tyler Baltz (Haley), Tony Baltz (Lindsey), Andre Gates (Shannon), Kaity Daley, Hannah Daley (Ian), Shannon Daley, Kyle Irvin, Luke Irvin, Maren Irvin. Great grandchildren Harper and Shay Baltz, Tanner and Maia Baltz, and Kylee and Alann Gates.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Collier Lutheran Hospice at: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/foundation/lutheran-foundation/donate  Be sure to select Hospice/Palliative Care in the designation drop-down menu.

Services will be held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Arvada on December 21, 2023. Rosary 10:00 AM and Funeral Mass 10:30 AM. Reception to follow.