Natalie B. Stewart

Natalie Stewart, 95, died peacefully on March 10, 2018 at Oak Hill Manor nursing home in Ithaca, NY, surrounded by family.

Born in Rockport, MA on May 29, 1922, she grew up in Swampscott, MA and loved spending childhood summers with her grandmother and great aunt on Cape Ann near the ocean. Natalie graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a BS in chemistry. While working as a chemist in the Boston area, she met James M. Stewart on a blind date arranged by a mutual friend while Jim was attending Harvard Medical School. They married in 1944 and spent nearly a year together in Italy while Jim served as an Army physician. During their frequent trips to Florence, they developed their lifelong passion for opera, fine arts and classical music. They returned to Jim's hometown of Rochester, NY, where Natalie worked as a chemist at Eastman Kodak while Jim completed his training in internal medicine. She left her career to start a family. Natalie and Jim were lifetime members of the Third Presbyterian Church, where they met many of their closest friends and were deeply involved in the life of the congregation. While raising their 4 children, Natalie continued her studies in ballet, which she had begun in childhood and college, and continued ballet exercises into her early 80s. As a mother and neighbor she was upbeat, kind, generous, welcoming and humble, and much beloved. Natalie volunteered as a docent at the U of R Memorial Art Gallery from 1968 until 2004. She received a Masters degree In Fine Arts from the University of Rochester in 1985 at the age of 63, the oldest graduating student that year. Natalie was passionate about gourmet cooking, theater, genealogy, reading and social justice. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels, was a member of the Junior League of Rochester, and participated in other community service through Third Church and the wider community. She and her husband Jim were the Third Presbyterian Church 2009 Faith in Action Nominees. Natalie took great joy in spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved children and especially enjoyed giving Art Gallery tours to schoolchildren. Natalie and Jim were extremely grateful to have a beloved summer community of friends at Echo Lake in Readfield, ME. One of Natalie's greatest pleasures was paddling with Jim in their canoe at sunset, listening to the calls of the loons. Natalie inspired us all by the grace with which she lived with Alzheimer's disease for the last 16 years of her life. She remained good-natured and affectionate, enjoying her many stuffed animals and even handing them out to other nursing home residents.

Natalie's family wishes to express their deepest gratitude for the loving care which the Oak Hill Manor staff provided to Natalie for well over 7 years.

She was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Jim, and by her parents, Thomas Byrd Epps and Bertha (Grace Blake) Epps Paro and her brother, Richard Blake Epps. Natalie is survived by children Nancy (Raymond Terepka) of Ithaca, NY, Jampa M. (Kristy Kunhardt) of Washington Depot, CT, Richard (Beverly) of Guilford, VT and Cynthia of Boston, MA; daughter-in-law Claudia Drews of Greendale, WI; grandchildren Melissa (Jack May) of Guilford, VT, Nolan (Molly) of Portland, ME, Michael Terepka (Ashley Sherrick) and Amy Terepka of Portland, OR, Adam (Hannah) of Dallas, TX, Gabriel (Mariela) of Madison, WI and Nathan Terepka of Brooklyn, NY; and great-grandchildren Audrey and Finn LaMorder of Guilford,VT and Leopold Stewart of Portland, ME and extended family and many friends.

There will be no calling hours. A memorial service to celebrate Natalie's life will be held on Saturday, March 24 at 11:00 AM at Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs St., Rochester, NY14607. There will be a reception following the service. The internment of ashes will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Docent Endowment Fund, U of R Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607; Third Presbyterian Church or Alzheimer's Association.

Saturday, March 24, 2018 11:00 AM

Third Presbyterian Church 4 Meigs St. Rochester, NY 14607