Alice Jean Natoli McKenrick, 90, of Clearfield died peacefully on Thursday, December 6, 2018, as she had hoped to do, in her own home on Nichols St.

Jean, as she was known, as born on September 16, 1928 in Philipsburg, a daughter of the late Morton and Anna Miller Erickson.

Jean Natoli, together with her first husband Charles Natoli, spent their entire career working The Progress, Clearfield County’s local newspaper. Jean began as a reporter, working her way up to become The Editor of the newspaper in the 1980’s, and for decades she also wrote a column for the newspaper called “Time Out” that chronicled the wit and wisdom of the lives of the ordinary folks of Clearfield Co. “Time Out" was one of the newspaper’s most widely read and popular columns. In 1983 Jean Natoli was elected President of the Pennsylvania Society of News Editors (PSNE), a distinction she was rightly proud of. At the time, she was only the second woman president of the PSNE since its founding in 1949.

For some years Mrs. Natoli was also on the Board of Directors of CAST, the Clearfield Arts Studio Theatre, Inc., a theatrical group in downtown Clearfield. In addition to being a great reader herself, Jean Natoli was also a volunteer for some time at the Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library and a frequent visitor to the Library. Jean was a graduate Penn State University with an Associate’s Degree in English.

Jean was a gifted pianist and nothing pleased her more than to gather her family around the piano and to accompany them in singing songs and hymns. Although her roots lay in the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lanse, PA, in recent years she attended St. Francis RC Church in Clearfield.

She is survived by three children: Prof. Charles Natoli and his wife Joanna of Fairport, NY; David Natoli and his husband Rev. Peter Carey of New York, NY; and Mrs. Barbara Miller and her husband Jim of Downers Grove, IL. She is also survived by six grandchildren: Bridget Reed, Alexandra Natoli, Julia Natoli, Derek Natoli, Christopher Miller, and Charles Miller. She also leaves two great grandchildren: Thomas and Gwendolyn Reed. Two brothers-in-law also survive: Joseph Natoli and his wife Evelyn, and Raymond Eyerly. Jean also leaves a host of nephews and nieces who fondly remember “Aunt Jean."

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her first husband, Charles Natoli and second husband Thomas McKenrick as well as a daughter, Lisa Natoli and a son Timothy Natoli, as well as a sister, Mary Ann Eyerly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Francis Church, Clearfield, on Saturday, December 15, at 10 AM, with the Rev. Brandon M. Kleckner as celebrant. Interment will follow in the Calvary Cemetery, Clearfield.

Friends will be received at the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home on Friday, December 14, from 4-7 PM and Saturday from 9-9:30 AM.

The family suggests that memorial contributions be made to St. Francis Educational Endowment Fund, 212 South Front Street Clearfield, PA 16830.

To sign on the on-line guest book, go to www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com