Natalie "Nat" (Mislick) Ziegra passed quietly in the evening of Wednesday (April 18, 2012), shortly after telling each of her children that she loved them. The last two years of her life were spent in residence at the New McLean Home in Simsbury where she lived comfortably under the staff's superb care and was able to go home to God with great dignity. Natalie, the eldest of four children, was born October 2, 1926 to Edward R. Mislick and Francis "Emma" (Kolakowski) in Deep River, Connecticut. She is predeceased by her mother and father, niece Susan (Mislick) Hand, as well as her husband of 62 years, Albert W. Ziegra, who passed away July 7, 2011. Natalie is survived by her sister Barbara Reinsch of Old Saybrook, Connecticut; brother and sister-in-law James and Teresa Mislick of Belmont, Massachusetts; brother and sister-in-law Richard and Cornelia Mislick of Wallingford, Connecticut; daughters Hope Ziegra of Canton, Connecticut and Lucia Ziegra of Simsbury, Connecticut; sons A. Wells Ziegra Jr. of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts and Jonathan Ziegra and his wife Jennifer of Boothbay, Maine. Most important to Natalie were her grandchildren Samantha Ziegra and Joshua Ziegra both of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Carolyn Ziegra of Portland, Maine, and Heidi Ziegra of Boothbay, Maine. Natalie spent her childhood in and around Deep River, enriched by her strong Polish heritage where family and hard work meant everything. Her teenage years were punctuated by war and the lifestyle of the working class home-front, watching many of her friends and classmates, and the future "love of her life", go off to all corners of the world, putting themselves in harm's way; some never returning. After she graduated from Deep River High School in 1944 she went on to the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1947. Along the way she reconnected with an old high school classmate just returning from the Pacific Theater of Operations and on September 6, 1948 she married Albert "Bert" Ziegra, supported him, both as his soul-mate and as bread-winner while he toiled through graduate school at Syracuse University. In 1952 Nat and Bert moved to Simsbury, Connecticut, raised four children, and remained residents of the town they loved until the end. In addition to motherhood, Natalie completed a successful career as a registered nurse, moving to different posts. Nat loved working with more "seasoned citizens" starting her career at Holly Hill Convalescent Home in Simsbury, Connecticut, moving then to Avon Convalescent Home in Avon, CT, finally finishing her career in 1988 at Avery Heights, Church Homes, Inc. in Hartford, Connecticut. Natalie enjoyed traveling during her retirement years, including each corner of America, sometimes for just her and Bert and sometimes to reunite with Bert's World War II comrades. The most enjoyable part of Natalie's retirement was being a doting grandmother. She was very proud of her grandchildren and all of their achievements. Natalie had several hobbies which she truly enjoyed including; reading, knitting, playing the piano and solving the daily Hartford Courant crossword puzzle. Natalie was a friendly and compassionate person who brightened the lives of the people she touched. Friends and family are invited to attend calling hours at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury on Tuesday, April 24 from 4-7 p.m. The memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 25 at 11 a.m.at the Vincent Funeral Home. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests all donations are sent to the wonderful people at Gifts of Love, 35 East Main Street, Avon, CT 06001-3805, (860) 676-2323. Please visit Natalie's "Book of Memories" at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online condolences.