Natalie Barbera, nee Natalie Thomen passed away on February 13, 2024 from complications of metastatic breast cancer at Cedar Sinai Hospital. She was born July 1, 1966 in Columbus, OH daughter of Nanci and Ray Thomen.
She is survived by her husband Michael Barbera, daughter Audrey Lucille Barbera, her mother Nanci Markey and older sister Celeste Thomen.
Natalie graduated from Chatsworth High School, class of 1984. Following graduation, she became involved in the fashion industry, which lead her to live in Columbus OH, Chicago, IL and finally in Los Angeles,CA where she met her husband Michael and started her family. She also worked with Avon Cosmetics and in the pharmaceutical industry for Eli Lili, Amgen and finally Kythera Pharmaceuticals. She returned to her passion for fashion and was successfully involved with retail companies, LuLaRoe, Worth and finally her own enterprise, CHITCHAT. Her life was full and immensely engaged with friends and her social media platforms. She battled her cancer with bravery, fierce tenacity and unbelievable strength. Her husband and daughter were with her until the moment she was peacefully called home by the Angels. She as surrounded by her mother, sister and best friends in her last hours.
She was married to Michael Barbera on October 21, 2000 in Los Angeles. Their daughter, Audrey Lucille Barbera, was born in 2004 at West Hills Hospital. Natalie was known for generous spirit, sometime surprising sense of humor and an amazing sense of style. She was actively involved in horses and equestrian activities, hunters, jumpers and dressage, from an early age. As an energetic young girl, she developed her life-long passion for horses. She became a champion hunter jumper rider and later in life, became involved both as a rider and supporter in and of the dressage community. She was also actively involved in dog rescue and recovery having lovingly adopted and rehabbed many disabled dogs during her life. She dedicated her life to her family and friends. We are broken hearted beyond words, but are profoundly grateful to her for being our strength, our compass, our devoted mother, wife, daughter, sister, soul-mate, family and friend.
A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 11, 2024 at the Simi Valley Church of Christ, 1554 Sinaloa Avenue, Simi Valley, CA 93065 with a remembrance reception to directly follow the service. In lieu of flowers donations should be made to:
Roadogs Rescue https://www.facebook.com/roadogsrescue, Pug Nation Rescue of Los Angeles https://www.pugnationla.org/, Southern California bulldog https://socalbulldogrescue.org/