Annette Marie (Fechtner) Cuccia was born on Feb. 17, 1972, in Seattle to Walter and Mary (Monahan) Fechtner. She passed away after a nearly five-year battle with breast cancer in Renton on May 12, 2024.
Annette was raised in Chehalis, Washington, and attended St. Joseph Catholic School. She graduated from W.F. West High School, finishing in the top 10 and being a member of the National Honor Society. She attended Centralia College and received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Washington.
Annette's family meant everything to her and was always at the top of her priorities. She was heavily involved in her children's schooling and extracurriculars, helping her sons, Marcus and Bradley, achieve the rank of Eagle Scout in 2017 and 2021, respectively, just as her father did decades before. The time and effort she put into helping her sons reach their goals has certainly molded them into the young men they are today. Continuing traditions started by her mother and father, Annette took her sons on several vacations such as the annual family vacation in Bend, Oregon, as well as trips to the Oregon Coast, and a special trip to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota for her son Marcus' high school graduation. Her children were her greatest pride — she held her sons to a high standard and they continue to live up to those standards, which made her proud.
Annette spent 11 years as a paraeducator in the Tahoma School District, most recently working with students to improve their math skills through small groups and assisted learning. Her impact on the education of these children was significant. While the children she supported may not have known it, she was very proud of the impact she made on their lives, and she wanted success for every one of them. Annette also developed close friendships with many of her coworkers across the several schools where she worked, and she cherished those relationships.
Her Catholic faith was at the center of Annette's life, having attended Catholic grade school as a child, then extending and building a strong faith base in her children, who went on to be altar servers, lectors and ministers in the church, due to her influence and confidence in them. She was an involved member even until the last few years of her life, mainly as a Sacristan and Eucharistic Minister. She attended St. John the Baptist in Covington and St. Joseph's church in Chehalis
Annette was a woman full of many talents and hobbies. From a young age, she did cross-stitch, making several beautiful original creations. She cared for many bunnies throughout her life, and most recently she loved cats. Taking after her parents, gardening was also another fond hobby of Annette's, growing a fruitful garden every summer with her sons. She was very active in the outdoors, walking on many of the local trails and hiking with her boys. She had an eye for antiquing and preserved history very well in her home. She will be best remembered for her cooking and baking, as she has several original recipes that have amazed those she served.
Annette was preceded in death by her father, Walt Fechtner, who passed away in
January after a fall at his home in Chehalis, and by her cousin, Bill Fechtner. She is survived by her mother, Mary; children, Marcus and Bradley; her two brothers, Ron (Cathy) and Pat (Erika); four nieces and nephews, Hailey, Nathan, Derek and Danika; her uncle, Jim (Sylvia) Fechtner; and her cousin, Julie (Ron) Murphy.
The funeral for Annette Cuccia will be at 4:30 p.m. May 31 at St. John the Baptist Church in Covington. A reception will follow afterward in the church hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Chemo Bags of Hope, a nonprofit organization started by one of Annette's closest friends. The organization makes bags filled with essentials to support cancer patients during chemotherapy treatments. Additionally, a donation fund has been created to assist Annette's sons as they move forward. Please consider donating to one or both causes.
Chemo Bags of Hope: https://chemobagsofhope.org/
Donation fund for Annette's boys: https://gofund.me/c31fa4a9
