Natalie Weinstein, age 88 yrs and 8 months, passed away peacefully at her home in Pleasanton on August 14, 2017.
She was the mother of four children, Jack Weinstein, Susan Weinstein, JoAnne Bressick and Julie Stern; the grandmother of 7 grandsons and one granddaughter; and the great grandmother of one. Natalie was born in Oakland, CA in 1929, grew up in Oakland and spent the majority of her life there. In 1949, she married Jack M. Weinstein, of blessed memory, and began married life in Pullman, WA. First child Jack Lawrence was born there in 1950. By 1952, the couple had moved to Oakland, then Hayward where Jack began his teaching career. They had daughter Susan in 1953 and the family lived in Hayward for the next ten years. Natalie spent nearly a year at the City of Hope Hospital in Southern CA for treatment of tuberculosis. The successful recovery allowed her to return to her family and over the next years living in Oakland, two more children were born, JoAnne in 1963 and Julie in 1967.
Natalie returned to college in the 1970's earning a bachelor's and master's degree in English and literature. She embarked on a 15 year career as a college instructor at Chabot, Ohlone, and Cal State Hayward. She maintained friendships with countless people , not only close by but internationally. She was rightly proud of her long time memberships in multiple book clubs, most notably her more than 60 years in the Chabot Park Literary Society, through which she read and discussed nearly 600 books over the length of her participation.
Natalie will be remembered for her fierce devotion to family; her openness to people of all backgrounds and persuasions; her curiosity and interest in people and the larger world; and her healthy habits of swimming, yoga and sensible use of chocolate!
The family is grateful to Hope Hospice and to her devoted caregivers. Donations in Natalie's name may be made to Hope Hospice, City of Hope, or Facing History and Ourselves. Services will be held at Home of Eternity Cemetery, 5000 Piedmont Ave. Oakland at 11:00am on Friday August 18th.