M.Natalie McMath

M. Natalie McMath (Nat), 97, of Sanford, Maine passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough Maine on Sunday October 25, 2020. She was born on August 1, 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts the daughter of Allen Kline and Martha Read Kline of Needham, Massachusetts. Natalie graduated from Needham High School in 1941 then met and married Fred Colin McMath in 1942. While her husband went to Europe and serve in the Army during WWII, Natalie completed a secretarial degree from Hickox Secretarial School in Boston. She worked in an accounting office while waiting for husband to return from Europe. Upon her husband's return in 1945, they started a family and welcomed a daughter in 1946 and a son in 1949. Over the next 15 years, she raised her family, worked in the Needham School System and became an avid league bowler. Natalie spent a lifetime giving back to her family and community. In 1966 Natalie welcomed twin daughters; two years later upon her husband's retirement from the Needham Fire Department, Natalie moved to Wells, Maine where she and her husband bought and a operated motel until the mid-1970's. In the 1970's Natalie moved with her family to a 220-acre dairy farm in upstate New York. Natalie and her family operated the farm until 1975 at which time Natalie moved to the Sanford area to care for her mother. In addition, to being a staunch caretaker of her mother, Natalie worked for a local pediatrician, the Sanford Housing Authority and finally in settling into managing the Old Timers Shop from 1976-2000 and continued her passion of managing the Sanford Meals on Wheels site from the early 1980's until her "retirement" in April of 2006 at the young age of 82. Natalie was never still for long and her retirement was no different. She continued in her role of the family matriarch ensuring that no holiday went uncelebrated and ensured that the family's annual lakeside celebrations occurred without disruption. Natalie developed friendships, enjoyed card clubs, continued on a bowling league, grew to be an avid bird watcher and caretaker. Her passion was watching the New England Patriots or Boston Red Sox. She never missed a game! Her wit and hearty matriarchal role never disappointed and or waned. Of particular importance was her avid reading of books, especially mystery books in which she could devour a book a day. Her books were truly her lifeline in later years.Surviving are a brother, Oliver "Howie" Kline; a son, Fred Colin Mc Math, Jr. of Somersworth, New Hampshire; two daughters; Jodi Mc Math of Sanford Maine and Wendi McMath-Dubois of Biddeford Maine; 8 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren and 10 nieces and nephews. Her parents predecease her, Allen and Martha Kline; a sister, Verna Topliffe of Mass; a brother, Dr. George Kline of South Carolina: her husband, Fred Colin McMath of Sanford, Maine and a daughter, Dianna Lee McMath of New Hampshire.In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Sanford Goodall Memorial Library, 952 Main Street, Sanford Maine 04073.A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday, October 31st at 12noon at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. Family and friends are invited to gather for a period of visitation beginning at 11AM. Due to covid 19 restrictions, face masks will be required.