Rice, Natalie A. (Czarnecki)
Natalie A. (Czarnecki) Rice, 89, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2023, after a long period of declining health. Her passing occurred at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, CT. Natalie was born on July 22, 1933, in Turners Falls, MA, to the late Julia (Wozniak) and Paul Czarnecki. She was the youngest of six children, all of whom predeceased her except for her next oldest sister Yolanda Murphy of Feeding Hills, MA. Sisters Stachia Plaza, Mary Belunas, Adeline Cislo, and brother Edward Czarnecki have passed on.
Natalie was a 1951 graduate of Turners Falls High School. She then graduated from Franklin County Public Nursing School as a RN in 1954. She carried out her nursing career in Springfield, MA, California for three years, Boston Children's Medical, and various nursing homes in Connecticut. In 1964, she met Bob Rice Jr., who was on an audit trip in western MA at the time. They were married in 1970 in Turners Falls, MA. Their only child Darlene (Rice) Tischofer was born in 1971 in Hartford, CT.
Natalie was an extremely devoted wife and mother. She lived in Glastonbury, CT, for over 50 years where she was the treasurer of the Democratic Women's Club, member of the Glastonbury Garden Club, and member of the Fine Arts Commission. Natalie liked to travel and talk about her European trips when she was younger. When married, she alternatively vacationed in Ft. Lauderdale by the Sea or in the Caribbean. She loved listening to polka music, operas, and light classic music. Her talent in the kitchen was outstanding. She always cooked everything from scratch and on most days was watching cooking shows on TV to learn something new. Natalie was known for her green thumb and her love of plants. Her specialty was growing and maintaining violets. The house was always filled with flowers that bloomed for her when nobody else could do the same. We would like to acknowledge her long-term friends Pat Kalman of Florida and Doris O'rourke of Glastonbury. Many friends, nieces, nephews, and cousins will miss her. She also will be missed most of all by her daughter Darlene with whom she spent most of her time. Darlene always knew what to do to make Natalie's life better. We would like to thank the numerous caregivers that helped Natalie in our home and the nurses at Middlesex hospital who made her stay pleasant. A big thank you to the Murphy and Davignon families for all their support over the years.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, February 21, at 11:00, in Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 84 K St, Turners Falls, MA 01376, followed by burial at Our Lady of Czestochowa Cemetery, Montague Rd, Turners Falls, MA. A celebration of her life will follow at the Champney's Restaurant at the Deerfield Inn, 81 Old Main St. Deerfield, MA. 01342. Memorial donations may be made to your local food bank. Arrangements are under the direction of the Kostanski Funeral Home. For condolences, please visit www. kostanskifuneralhome.com