Nathaleen F. Multari

Nathaleen Multari, 92, of Ithaca, New York, peacefully passed away on August 2nd, 2023 at Groton Community Health Care after a long and productive life of giving and nurturing all those she touched.

Nathaleen (Nat) was born on March 25th, 1931 in Ithaca, New York. Tragically, both of her parents died within one month of each other in two unrelated (freak) accidents. This left Nathaleen, the youngest child, and her 9 brothers and sisters as orphans during the Great Depression. These tragic events and the life of uncertainty and hardship that followed provided Nat with the lessons she needed to develop the strength, courage and compassion that defined her adult life.

Nat married Robert Smith in 1949 and went on to have two children, Grant Lee, born in 1950 and Yolanda born in 1952. They were divorced in 1954. Nat subsequently met Joseph Multari and they were married in 1958. They had one daughter, Joleen, born in 1962.

Nat and Joe loved the new house they bought in 1972. Joe worked at Cornell as a Senior Capital Project Manager while Nat raised their family, lovingly tended her gardens and enjoyed singing and painting.  She was a devoted and beloved member of her local church. For a number of years, she had a thriving business that she loved selling Avon. She also enjoyed working at JC Penney. Nat fulfilled her dream of travel, visiting many beautiful places such as the Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Ottawa Tulip Festival, Florida, the Adirondacks, Niagara Falls, California & Nova Scotia.

Family and friends were of utmost importance in Nat’s life.  She treated them all with love and kindness and had an endless capacity to help them in any way that she could. Joseph passed away in Ithaca in 2003. Nat is survived by her son Lee and daughter-in-law, Denise; her daughter Yolanda and son-in-law, Robert; her daughter Joleen and son-in-law, Eddie; her grandchildren Christopher and his wife, Laura, Heather and her husband, Robert; plus her great grandchildren, Wyatt and Taylor, Mia and Matthew.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Bangs Funeral Home, Ithaca, NY. Online condolences may be made to Nathaleen’s family at www.bangsfuneralhome.com.