| Date of Birth | September 1, 1932 |
| Date Deceased | January 16, 2022 |
| Hometown | Hornell |
| Home State | N.Y. |
| Service Date | January 22, 2022 |
| Service Time | 9:30 a.m. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Fremont |
Natalie Ann Weyand
HORNELL-Natalie Ann Weyand of Hornell died at Teresian House in Albany, NY on January 16, 2022. In recent years she had been afflicted by a weakening of the heart and she passed away peacefully in her sleep early Sunday morning. Born at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell on September 1, 1932, she was a daughter of the late Leo F. and Natalie Elizabeth (Kiehle) Weyand, and sister of Barbara (Miles) Weyand, all of whom predeceased her. She is survived by her first cousin John Weyand of Colonie, NY, cousins of succeeding generations, a nephew often referred to as ‘her favorite’ even though he was the only one, a grand-niece and nephew, and many friends.
A lifelong resident of Hornell, Natalie graduated from Hornell High School in the Class of 1950. She was fond of reciting the class motto to anyone who inquired and would be very pleased if the reader would put it to memory: ‘Sharp as nails, neat and thrifty, hail the class of 1950’. Natalie received her Bachelors’ Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Speech and Dramatic Arts from SUNY Geneseo in 1954. She also completed graduate courses at Alfred University, SUNY Buffalo, Syracuse University and Catholic University, and received her Masters’ Degree in Clinical Speech Pathology from Penn State University.
Natalie began her professional career in Hornell in 1954 as a Kindergarten teacher for four years at the Bryant School. In the Fall of 1958, the Superintendent commissioned her to implement a new speech-language correction program for the Hornell City School District. She developed and maintained that program until her retirement in 1989. She was a lifetime member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, the New York State Speech-Language Hearing Association, the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, the Mu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma honor society for women educators, past secretary of the Hornell Teachers’ Association, and member of NYSUT Council 46, NY State and Steuben County Retired Teachers’ Associations. Natalie often remarked about how gratifying it was to have former students come up to her with remembrances of their time in her classes over the years. She was fond of recalling that in her tenure as Speech Therapist for the District, she had been known as the ‘Talking Teacher’, and she endeavored to continue living up to that title throughout her retirement years.
Natalie was a communicant of St. Ignatius Loyola Church, later at St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish. She was a past member of the Rosary and Altar Society, Ladies of Columbus, and Resurrection Choir. Natalie loved Hornell, its wonderful residents, and the incredible beauty and diversity of the Southern-Tier. She had a special fondness for Loon Lake and was the first Secretary/Treasurer of the Loon Lake Cottage Owners Association chartered in 1973.
In addition to teaching, Natalie was active in her community and over the years served on the Boards of the Hornell Children’s Home, Hornell Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Hornell Area Arts Council. Other affiliations included the St. James Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, Hornell YMCA and Fortnightly Book Club. In addition to her community involvement, Natalie also enjoyed music, particularly choral singing, gardening and dramatics.
Natalie was a devoted aunt to her sister’s son from 1965 to the present. She was always the source of fun, activities and adventures particularly at Christmas, Easter and during summer vacations. He would be grateful for the reader to know that it was Aunt Nat’s attention to him in his early years that was responsible for laying the foundation for any good that he may have done as an adult.
For safety’s sake during the continuing pandemic there will be no calling hours. Family and friends are invited to St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 31 Erie Ave., Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. Masks are requested but singing is encouraged. Burial will be next to her parents at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Fremont. All the services will be live streamed and may be seen either on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home or on the homepage of www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com (please see link for live stream) for 30 days beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 22, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to a new Hornell High School Alumni Association scholarship fund to be established in Natalie’s name for students pursuing a career in elementary education or speech pathology. Contributions may be sent to the Hornell High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 135, Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes will be available at the church.
The Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home, 285 Main St., Hornell is honored to assist Natalie’s family with the arrangements.
To leave your own personal remembrance or condolence you may click on the link below or visit the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.
Was lucky enough to grow up across the street from her and her parents. Such a truly caring and loving person. May she rest in peace
You are special and will never be forgotten. God Bless you!
“Miss Natalie” was my tutor for a number of years. I had a distinct speech impediment and she worked hard and long with me to correct it. Things like that stay with you forever. I have thought about her many, many times over the years and continually thank her for being so kind and considerate to a little girl who couldn’t even pronounce her own name correctly.
Natalie will be missed. Hornell’s gem. Natalie was full of the “Weyand family tree” knowledge. I love that she was remembered as the talking teacher. â¤ï¸
Natalie was my speech teacher at Lincoln School…. I have the best memories of her. For a little girl, who had a stutter, she was great. I’ll always remember “six slippery snakes slowly slid southwardâ€! She graduated with my mom, so they would visit often and walk together on occasion along with Mary Flaitz. If there was a play or the Wind Ensemble concert at Hornell High School, I’d run into her. She enjoyed them all. She was one of the nicest people I ever knew. I will miss seeing you, but what a blessing to have known you, all these many years.
My sincere condolences to Natalie’s nephew and extended family on her passing. It seemed that Natalie always brought joy and happiness to anyone she happened to cross paths with whether it was at church or the grocery store or just walking down the street! She had a contagiously cheerful disposition. She was my speech teacher 50 years ago in elementary school helping me correctly pronounce the letters “r†and “s.†Moreover, Natalie was a friend and fellow classmate of my mother’s from the HHS Class of 1950! What a beautiful gift she was to all who knew her!
I was one of her students in 1972, and she worked with me for four years. Natalie’s memory has always been a source of good and happiness n my life. Although i last talked to her since my early teens, hearing of her passing truly saddens me. I had hopes of another encounter with her to share again what an impact she had on me. Good-by and God bless, you will be missed.
she was a summer neighbor at the lake and we enjoyed many times together. She was a good travel companion both on bus tours and by car. We enjoyed dining out for many celebrations.
She was a lovely lady and a neighbor of ours at Loon Lake. We always enjoyed sitting down and having a conversation with her. Our prayers are with you at this sad time.
As I was growing up in Erie, PA, my mother Ruth Weyand Heintz would often speak of her relatives in Hornell.her father Charles and Leo, Natalie’s fther were brothers of eight who came from Germany.
I took Mom to visited. Years later, I traveled to see my son in Albany and a blizzard forced me of the road in Hornell. I looked up the Name and remembered address. An answer! it was Natalie and delighted with a family contact. I was invited for oatmeal in the morning, the best i ever had. No doubt it was because of the hostess. What a joy and instant friends…since 2001. We chatted on phone , sent cards,
laughed, renewed history. With pleasure I visited a few days a few times. and Natalie drove herself on rt. 86 to me daughter’s wedding. She was so proud and so happy and then stayed with me a few days. Indeed the Weyand family was extended (beyond what my brother David first found in tracing and meeting relatives in Germany in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s.
Certainly her nephew Geoff was her one and only and conversations always showed him in her heart.
What a sharp, bright, fun, classic, holy lady.
we enjoyed so much and I was extra blessed. I miss you and love you Natalie. Rest in His Peace.
Natalie was a friend and colleague for many years. She always had such a positive, cheerful attitude, and a kind word every time we would run into each other. Hornell has truly lost a gem of the community. May you rest in the Lord’s peace .