Natalie Paula Fink Bockian Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Natalie Paula Fink Bockian was born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 21, 1933 to Israel and Blanche Fink. She had an older sister, Barbara, and they ended up moving to Cincinnati where the girls attended the prestigious Walnut Hills High School. Natalie received a degree in teaching at Miami University. One summer while working as a camp counselor, she overcame her nerves to go on a late-night canoe ride with Herbert Bockian, the Head Lifeguard. The romance culminated in marriage on August 15, 1958 and a subsequent move to Memphis, TN where they settled while Herb attended the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and received the Verstandig award for surmounting the greatest difficulty in obtaining a medical education. Natalie was his support all through this endeavor and along the way gave birth to their first child, Phyllis Ann Horning. While completing his residency in Nashville, TN at Vanderbilt University and his internship at St. Thomas Hospital, Natalie had three more children, David Alan Bockian, Barry Israel Bockian and Steven Teo Bockian. Four children in four years! In support of Herb’s career, the family moved to Miami, FL where Natalie succeeded as a Homemaker raising her family. The opportunity for Herb to be Director of the Bristol Regional Mental Health Center arose, and in late 1973 the family relocated to East Tennessee. The family matured in this nurturing environment, the kids spread their wings and migrated to find their own paths. In the Spring of 1994 Natalie buried her lifelong love at the Jewish Cemetery in Bristol. After her Mother’s death and a thirty-year absence Natalie returned to Nashville, Tennessee to start the next chapter of her life. It wasn’t long before she was an active member of the West End Synagogue and the Gordon Jewish Community Center. She continued to master her Bridge skills and spent hours with her friends playing Maj Jong and kibitzing over the day’s current events. She enjoyed the opportunity to give back to her community and switched her volunteer efforts from the Bristol Memorial Hospital where she was a “Candy-Striper”, to St. Thomas West where she volunteered in the Library. She was honored to be have earned the KOVOD Award as Senior of the Year at the Jewish Community Center soon after returning to middle Tennessee. Fellow members of the prestigious century old Inquirers’ Book Club selected her as President to lead the organization for three terms. These events and the numerous others that directed the new chapter of her life allowed her to find her footing and grow her inner strength as an individual. Though Mom always said that she would rather have lived in a smaller house and had her husband around for a few more years, the depression era mindset of sacrifice for family was too deeply engrained. Her wit, generosity and kind nature in addition to her love for her husband Herb, her children Phyllis (Her partner Larry), David, Barry, Steven (his wife Teri), her grandchildren Aaron, Rachel, Sara-Rose, Alex, friends and acquaintances are her legacy. She was loved and cherished by many and will be greatly missed. Natalie will be buried next to her loving husband who cherished everything about his wife at the Jewish Cemetery in Bristol. The graveside funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at B’NAI Sholom Congregational Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Jewish Federation of Nashville, www.jewishnashville.org or a senior center of your choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at akardfuneralhome.com Akard Funeral Home 1912 West State St., Bristol, TN (423) 989-4800 is serving the family of Mrs. Bockian.

Natalie Paula Fink Bockian

February 21, 1933 - March 21, 2020