Natalie M. “Nat” Lindstrom, 85, died on Oct. 20 at Chestelm Health and Rehabilitation Center in East Haddam. She was born in Chicago, Illinois, on Dec. 27, 1936, daughter of Lee and Ann (Popov) Marcus.

After growing up in Council Bluffs, Iowa, she attended college at UCLA. When her children were young, Natalie owned and ran the Natalie Gister School of Dance in Glendora, California. After moving to Connecticut in 1972, Natalie got involved in West Hartford public schools, teaching dance and choreographing musicals at Plant Junior High School and teaching folk dancing at Temple Beth Israel. She became a successful real estate agent and broker, while moonlighting in vintage and ballroom dance performance and teaching dance to adults. She and her longtime dance partner Joel Silvestro were popular among the festival crowd, dancing, teaching and adding “ruach” (joy) to every event. Natalie was instrumental in the organization and marketing of both the Sunrise Resort’s Zydeco Festival in Moodus and the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival in Essex, for many years. She loved words in every form, narrated audiobooks for the blind and wrote a witty column for the Valley Courier for several years.

Natalie was a lover of poetry, music, gardening, the ocean, all animals (especially her cats) and had a special love for all things Snoopy. She played Scott Joplin and Chopin on the piano and was an excellent cook — famous for her cheese blintzes, koorambides, leek soup, and Harvey Wallbanger cake. Natalie loved classic comedy and would be happy to join favorites Lucille Ball, Victor Borge, and Jackie Gleason in a good laugh! She touched many hearts and will be deeply missed.

Survivors include daughters, Lauren Gister of Carbondale, Colorado, and Meg Gister of Old Lyme; daughter and son-in-law Juliana and Gerhard Brandner of Newburgh, New York; and her second husband Warren K. Lindstrom of Old Saybrook. She adored her six grandchildren: Alexandra Brennan, Sophie Gold, Maya Gold (Lauren); Joseph Gister (Meg); and Sebastian and Nicholas Brandner (Juliana). She was predeceased by her first husband of 20 years, Ronald S. Gister.

We wish to thank Chestelm Health and Rehabilitation Center for being a beacon of care and for making Natalie such a big part of your family as well.

Natalie was buried at Fountain Hill Cemetery in Deep River, surrounded by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to your favorite animal charity or to the Native American Children’s Fund in her memory. To share a memory or to leave a condolence for Natalie’s family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements are by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, Centerbook.