Natalie McKissick Hussar Merritt
1929-2021
Natalie McKissick Hussar Merritt, born in Rochester, NY on January 27, 1929, of Bedford, NY, met her death surrounded by her loving family on March 18, from the effects of a stroke at the age of 92.
Mrs. Merritt attended Westhampton College and the University of Miami. She was editor of her school paper and regularly performed on the Radio Guild. She was an accomplished pianist and an avid swimmer.
She met James August Hussar while attending the University of Miami, and on a dare, went moonlight waterskiing on their first date. The couple never looked back and were happily married for 30 years before a tragic car accident took her beloved husband’s life in 1980.
In the early 1950’s, Mr. and Mrs. Hussar set up housekeeping in Armonk, NY, where Mr. Hussar ran his family’s iconic Log Cabin Farms. She was predeceased by two of her five children, Susan Darrow Hussar Randall (Edward) and Nancy Hussar Chamlin (Paul). Surviving children are Jane Alison Hussar Dunn (Vaughn) of Greenwich, CT, Andree deVonne Hussar-Izzo of Bedford, NY, and John James McKissick Hussar (Kirsten Taylor) of Armonk, NY. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, a great-grandchild, numerous nieces, nephews and family from her second marriage to John C. Merritt (1916-2007), Westchester developer. And, two sisters, the late Audrey Fernandez and Jacqueline Cowell, Palm Beach, FL.
Mrs. Merritt’s most notable accomplishment was her family that she founded on faith. Her intrinsic childlike wonder fostered love of the artistic, musical and beautiful in nature. She loved being the matriarch and upholding family traditions. Her eyelash curler and pink lipstick accompanied her everywhere. She joyfully served the Lord by playing the organ every Sunday at the Anglican Church of the Advent, Greenwich, CT, until she was 90 years old. A passionate gardener, she was a visionary ahead of her time who advocated for recycling and the banning of DDT in the early 1960’s. By her example, she taught her family how to see life through a lens of love.
Her family will miss her kooky sense of humor, constant giggling and late night phone calls. Although she traded her dream of becoming an actress for raising a family, she never stopped performing for the world around her.
The viewing will be Thursday at Clark Associates Funeral Home, Katonah, NY, between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The Funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Bedford, NY. Service via livestream: stmatthewsbedford. org.
In lieu of flowers, our mother would want donations to be made to the beautification of your surroundings in thought, word or deed.