Natalie Concannon

Natalie Concannon, 78, of Ithaca, NY, died peacefully on May 20, 2025. Natalie was born February 7, 1947, in Cambridge, MA, to Joseph and Janet (Sweet) Brescia. She was raised in Walpole, MA, and spent her summers on Newfound Lake, NH, where she was a skilled water skier. Natalie graduated from Walpole High School and the New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing. While in Boston for school, Natalie met her husband, Patrick. They were married on October 28, 1967, and moved to Ithaca. Natalie began her nursing career at Tompkins County Hospital as Patrick pursued his PhD. Natalie also worked for several local physicians before raising her two children. Natalie was active in the community as a volunteer with the Kids on the Block elementary school program, the Girl Scouts, and Cornell student programming. She loved her garden and was often seen cheering on the Cornell ice hockey and basketball teams. She enjoyed the outdoors and spent many happy days sailing on Cayuga Lake and skiing at Greek Peak. She and Patrick built a wonderful community of friends who spent their weekends racing at the Ithaca Yacht Club. In their retirement, Natalie and Patrick traveled often and far, spent their winters in St. Pete Beach, FL, and enjoyed summers on their sailboat on Lake Ontario. After Patrick died in 2015, Natalie moved to the Kendal at Ithaca retirement community, where she was active in the Residents’ Association. For many years, Natalie planned the seasonal holiday parties, volunteered to support other residents, and gathered friends for billiards and cards. As her decades-long journey with Parkinson’s Disease progressed, she met every limitation with a positive attitude, creativity, a sense of humor, and a healthy dose of stubbornness. She was the ultimate role model to her family, friends, and care team. Natalie’s greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her daughter Meghan (Stephen) Hess of Chatham, NJ, her son Brian (Erin) Concannon of Manlius, NY, and her cherished grandchildren Evelyn, Natalie, David, Kevin and Caroline. She also leaves her siblings, Ralph (Bonnie) Brescia, Carol (Russ) Newman, Joanne Brescia, and Mary Brescia, as well as many supportive and dear friends. A memorial gathering will be held at Kendal at Ithaca on Saturday, June 28th, at 3 p.m.