We welcome friends and family to submit your fondest thoughts and memories of Jeanette or your condolences to her family, so that we might add them to a list of tributes to share with all who visit our web site. To do so, simply complete a Memorial Tribute form and submit it to us. We will post your tribute as soon as possible.

Tue 6/12/2001

I feel great sadness with the passing of Mrs. Nattress and at the same time when I think of her I cannot help but smile because of some things I remember about her. She was a mom in the neighborhood who never yelled at the kids running through her yard. She always was smiling and had this great take charge walk about her. I never knew she was in our home until she was already in the door. Most times she entered holding a plate of something. I remember best, the COOKIES! Italian with icing. Need I say more?

My deepest sympathies to you all, especially to Lorraine and Dave. My heart is with you during this most saddest of times. God will have a special place for your mother in His home, and as she enters the gates, He will be holding a plate filled with good things to welcome her.

Love, Dianne Ray and Jake
Leroy@sunlink.net

Wed 6/13/2001

Lorraine, David, Mr. Nattress & Aunt Joann,

My heart is with you all. I apologize for not being there in person. I would be if it were at all possible.

Lorraine and David... you have one of the best mom's any kid could hope to have. She gave you her undivided attention and direction. The single most impressionable memory I have is of David sitting in your mom's lap in early evening (prolly with jammies on) and she would read Dr. Susse books to him. The rest of us would sit and listen and when the story was over David went to bed and the rest of us got to sit and watch TV while mom went into the kitchen and fixed us cheese and beef stick snacks, "with Ritz", man! what a life! Playing in the attic, dressing up in the old prom gowns! Playing in the cellar with all the play kitchen stuff. All of us lining up holding hands in the back yard after the rain and daring to be the first one in line to touch the rain spout!!!!! ZAP!

Who can forget Mrs. Waroooooooom! ? Could she drive that shift on the column or what! Lorraine and David, your mom was so proud of you and it showed in her radiant smile.

Mrs. Nattress, We all love you and will miss you and keep you in our pages of life to come.
Love,
Michelle Craig (Wynkoop)
RangerChelle@cs.com

Wed 6/13/2001

Mrs. Nattress had a special place in my life as a little boy growing up on Chambers St. She was a devoted mother to my best friend Dave and she was a cherished friend by our entire family. She was always there when she was needed, and was never at a loss for what she could do to help. She had a masterful way of caring for others through her nourishing food and delicious baked goods. There was nothing she wouldn't do for our family and at least twice I can remember, perhaps more, she entertained large gatherings of our family in her home, just as if we were her own. Entertaining was, for her, an opportunity to share her love with those in her life. I remember Mrs. Nattress as a "take-charge" person. You could see it in her walk. She was always on her feet getting things done around the house and beyond. She was full of energy and used it to the benefit of her family and those around her.

Her infectious smile was genuine and like none others I've seen, one that came from within and was never surface. I remember as a boy watching her smile as she watched commercials on TV. I often wondered if she really liked the commercials or if her mind was on something else more pleasing.

Do you remember the car she had? The white Comet? Towards the end of the car's life it ran a little rough and she'd go out to warm up the engine with the same vim and vigor that she did her house cleaning. She'd use up a tank of gas revving up the engine like she was sitting on the pole position at an Indy race. I used to amuse myself thinking she was doing all that, just to go to around the block to Cather's Market for a gallon of milk!

She was the only person I knew that could wield a razor strap like a cowboy lassoing a rope at the rodeo. Actually, it spent more time on the shelf in the hallway, in plain view, as an effective deterrent for boyhood mischief. Although she'd be quick to make a bullet list of all the mischief we got into, I never felt the sting of that strap nor did anyone else that I know. (Dave may have a different memory of the razor strap?)

I remember Mrs. Nattress assuming the role of lifeguard when she put up the pool in the back yard for us kids. She kept law and order with her dominating presence and her posting of the "Pool Rules" sign. Rule number one; "We don't swim in your toilet, so don't pee in our pool!" True to form, she even managed to entertain the kids with lunch, snacks and drinks, rounding out the total pool experience.

I would be remiss if I didn't recall the time David and I were experimenting with matches and cigarettes along side their house. We were at that age where little boys want to be like men and smoking was our ticket to manhood. As we squatted down between the house and the hedges by Kostenbader's, we didn't realize that the window just above us at the dining room was wide open and all our smoke carried right in the window and past Mrs. Nattress' nose. I still remember looking up, seeing her in the window and knowing we were busted, caught red-handed. She had threatened to call the police on us. The last thing I can remember was that I ran as fast as I could, albeit clumsily, up the alley, in my oversized cowboy boots trying to escape punishment. As I approached the end of the alley by Summit Ave., a police car pulled in to capture me as I fled. The rest of the details after my capture are foggy, but I believe that was the first time my father shared his cigars with me. He even insisted that I inhale deeply to get the full pleasure. I thought my eyes were going to pop out of my head and that I'd never stop coughing.

Many years have passed since my childhood days and sadly, I've forgotten more than I can remember about those times. What I shall never forget was her gift of caring and kindness to her family, our family, and how she often blurred the lines between the two.

Lisa and I offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Nattress, Lorraine, David and their families for the loss of their wife, mother and grandmother. She has worked hard all her life doing that which pleased her. In doing so, she was a shining example of all that is good, and she enriched the lives of many of those around her, leaving us with trove of fond and wonderful memories. It is our hope that the joy and beauty of her life overshadows your sense of loss and comforts you in the times ahead.

God bless you.
Tim and Lisa Wynkoop and girls.
tew@noto-wynkoop.com

Thurs., 6/14/2001

Mr.Nattress, Lorraine, David, & family,

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I didn't spend as much time at your house as everyone else did but, I too remember all the wonderful baking your mom did...Those Italian cookies were the BEST!! I do remember one time playing on Lorraine's Canopy bed and as we were jumping, the canopy came crashing down on us...Mrs.Nattress never yelled just smiled and said "DAD" can fix it!! I know what it's like to loose a mother, just remember that she is in a wonderful happy place now with other family & friends. I'm sure Aunt Helen is with her and they are just talking, talking, talking!! Mrs.Nattress....we never called you "AUNT" but you were certainly considered an "AUNT" to all of us. You will be sadly missed by all of your family & friends you knew and loved. I'm sorry I can't be there, but my heart is.

Love, Denise (Wynkoop) Bodema
love2cudl2@aol.com