Diane Marie Percelay (Rotto)

Diane Percelay, a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, cousin, niece, aunt, and friend, passed away on February 12, 2025 after a long and valiant battle with breast cancer. Born on September 1, 1961 in Dallas, Texas to Theodore and Kathryn Rotto she had an older sister, Kristi, and younger twin sister, Debra. Her father Ted worked in the Food and Drug Administration and because of his work the family moved frequently. First moving from Dallas to Kansas City when Diane was about eight years old. Next, they settled in Maryland for a few years before heading back to Kansas City. Finally the family moved back to Dallas where Diane finished her high school years, graduating from JJ Pearce high school in 1979. Favorite childhood memories included summer-long trips to Lake Jewett in Fergus Falls, Minnesota where she visited with her aunts, uncles and cousins.

Diane majored in biology at Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, TX, just outside of San Antonio. Later she earned a PhD in physiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) at Dallas. During her doctorate studies she met her future husband, Stephen Howard Percelay. Diane was the teacher’s assistant for Steve’s physiology course while he was at Southwestern medical school. They married the day after both of their graduations on June 4, 1989 before moving to St. Louis for Steve’s radiology residency and Diane’s postdoctoral work. Their first son Scott Eliot was welcomed in 1992 while in St. Louis. After spending one year in Nashville for Steve’s radiology fellowship at Vanderbilt University, they moved to Modesto, CA where son Paul Joseph was born in 1995. Shortly after they finally settled back in Clarksville, TN where son Michael Isaac was born in 2000.

Diane had numerous interests and hobbies throughout the years. From childhood she was heavily involved in sports, playing both softball and basketball. Later she played basketball in college with her sister Debra, and along with their sister Kristi they are diehard Dallas Cowboys fans. She was very involved with her boys’ school activities and loved coaching soccer for many years. At the Clarksville Athletic Club she taught both yoga and spinning. She also taught Spanish and P.E. to kindergarteners and first graders. Church was always an important part of her life, and she became an integral part of the Christ Lutheran Church family for the nearly 30 years that she lived in Clarksville. 

After her original breast cancer diagnosis in 2009, yoga became an extremely important part of her life. She became a certified instructor, teaching at several local studios. Eventually, she began offering donation based yoga to the community out of her home.

She is survived by her mother: Kathryn Rotto; husband: Steve; sons: Scott, Paul and Michael; sisters: Kristi (Jeff) Broekhove and Debra (Chris) Rotto-Pelletier; mother-in-law: Anne Percelay; brother-in-law: Jack Percelay; sister-in-law: Deborah Percelay; nephews: Daniel (Laura) Broekhove, Thomas (Reynolds) Broekhove, Matthew Pelletier-Rotto and Luke Pelletier-Rotto; niece: Rachel (Shannon) Percelay; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Theodore Rotto.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests a donation to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation (www.komen.org) or another charity of your choice.

A celebration of Diane’s life will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at Christ Lutheran Church, 2425 Kirkwood Road, Clarksville, TN. Casual Sunday dress. You are encouraged to wear your favorite color.

Please visit Diane's tribute wall and share a memory with the family.