Loving, compassionate, empathetic, dedicated, beautiful & brave
Natalie was a caring person, always radiating good energy and cheering everyone up. “She was extremely in tune with people,” her mom, Deanna said. “She had a kind smile and gave the best hugs.” Natalie would do anything to make peace between people and was an excellent listener. She was an amazing daughter, sister, and mother. She was loyal and present with her family, especially her mother and her two children, Tyson and Gracie, who were her entire world.
In her younger days, her family took camping trips to the lake every weekend. Natalie loved boating and jet-skiing, and she was the first in her family to get on the skis. She also enjoyed climbing the rocks and catching lizards with her younger siblings, Samantha and Nathan. Natalie had a zest for life and loved anything that gave her adrenaline. She especially loved snowboarding and skydiving and earned her license as a certified skydiver, one of her biggest accomplishments.
Natalie got her driver’s license at age 14 and saved up for her first vehicle, a Dodge Ram 1500 that she absolutely loved. She was a hard worker, dedicated and dependable, always making sure the job was done well. After having her kids, Natalie got her GED in 2017. Before her passing, she was working as a property manager and progressing toward getting her realtor’s license. She was very close with her employers and gave them a card and a gift when their dogs passed away. This was a prime example of her compassion for people.
Natalie also had dreams of becoming an EMT because she loved caring for others. Christmas and birthdays were big celebrations of life because she and her brother’s birthdays fell on holidays. Natalie also went above and beyond for her children’s birthdays to make them feel special. She was a wonderful mom who did little things, like affirmations with her son, to help him build his self-confidence. She truly believed in people being their best selves.
You cannot mention Natalie’s name without remembering how she wanted others to comb her long, luscious brown hair. Natalie would barter with her siblings to brush her hair, and she let it be known that she thoroughly enjoyed a scalp massage.
Natalie was especially close with her brother Nathan, who passed away in 2015. About a year and a half later, she admitted to having a dependence on opioids. Three days later, she went to a treatment facility where she worked on her sobriety for the next ninety days. One month prior to the second anniversary of Nathan’s death, she overdosed.
What Natalie’s sister Samantha misses most about her big sister is her funny laugh, positive attitude, her ”cute” smile, and her small hands with painted nails. Even if she hit every red light while running errands, Natalie saw something positive! What her mom misses the most is Natalie’s bubbly personality, her smile, and the way she could always lift your spirits, no matter how bad of a day you were having. Natalie’s influence has made her be more present with her loved ones, especially Natalie’s children.
Natalie’s mother, Deanna Nuñez., provided the information for this narrative.
April 22, 1992–October 12, 2017
Age 25- Lived with the disease of addiction for five years.
