Lauretta Lorenzina Bertagni Natucci

On Dec. 13th, eight days after celebrating her 98th birthday, with family and friends, our dear Lauretta passed away peacefully at her care home in Kennydale. Lauretta was born in Black Diamond on Dec. 5, 1912, the first of five children born to Lorenzo and Pasquina (Franchini) Bertagni, recent immigrants from Villetta, Tuscany, Italy. Around the age of five, the family moved to the Renton area where she attended school. Her mother’s illness necessitated she leave Renton High to help with family responsibilities at home. Lauretta married Forrest Crook in Dec. 1933. In 1938, at an early age she was tragically widowed before the birth of their son. Lauretta and her young son then moved back to her parents’ home. Two years later, she met and married Jim Natucci on April 27, 1940 and they were blessed with 61 years of marriage before his passing in 2001. During their life together they owned and operated the Melrose Tavern which she considered a local neighborhood gathering place. It became an important part of her life for 28 years. Jim and Lauretta also loved traveling and took frequent trips to visit family members in Italy. She was very active in the Renton Eagles Auxiliary and was a Past President. She enjoyed their vacation home on Hood Canal and hosting big family gatherings. She loved cooking in her kitchen and mushroom hunting was her passion.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Jim, sisters, Jennie and Diane, brother, Hans, nephew, Ray John Aliment and niece, Gayl Bertagni. She is survived by her son Larry Crook and his wife Jeannie of Renton, four grandchildren; Lori Crane of Renton, Brett Crook of Anchorage, Dana (John) Rochex of Renton, and Daniel (Jordie) Hollingshead of Shelton, her brother, John (Eleanor) Bertagni of Renton, thirteen great-grandchildren, and numerous loving nieces and nephews that she held dear; including Jeanne (Joe) Tasson of Honolulu, HI, Janice Tanner of Renton, Janet and Gerry Bertagni of Renton, Steve (Cheryl) Bertagni of Marysville and Jane (Todd) Evans of University Heights, OH. The funeral service was held on December 21, 2010 at Greenwood Funeral Home, Renton; with a reception that followed at the Renton Eagles, FOE #1722.

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