Natalie Ann Griffiths

Natalie Ann Griffiths, formerly Natalie Ann Smith, passed away on Sunday 14th February 2021, peacefully, in her own bed, surrounded and cared for by her family and friends. She was born Natalie Ann Rae, on 26th October 1975, to Denise Southall and Tony Rae. She married Lee Emmerson Griffiths on 29th March 2018 and he survives. Also surviving are her parents, Denise Susan Southall and Tony Rae; her step father, Kevin Southall; her two children, Francessca Denise (Rae) Parkes and Joseph Leonard-John Smith; her two step-children, Lacey Leigh Griffiths and Franklin Thomas Griffiths; her two sisters, Vanessa Jane (Rae) Young and Lucy Marie (Atkinson) Cuzzocrea; her grandchildren, Amelia-Grace Parkes, Mikey-Jay Parkes and Lenny Kenneth Parkes; her nieces, Holly Marie Rae and Maya Josephine Cuzzocrea; and nephews, Ryan Young and Luca Albert Cuzzocrea; and several aunties, uncles, and cousins. She married Michael Smith, father to her son, Joseph Leonard-John Smith, in 1999, followed by their divorce in 2009. Though their relationship turned out to be less permanent than either of them expected, both went on to find love, again, and raise exceptional children. Natalie was initially raised by her mother, Denise, and step father, Peter Atkinson, until their separation. After this point, she was raised by her mother, in Sunnyside, Coulby Newham - where she attended Sunnyside Primary School and Coulby Newham Secondary School, later transferring to Nunthorpe Secondary School. As a child, Natalie always had a bright and cheeky grin on her face. Always singing and bouncing in the chair, as she listened to the songs of the time. She loved sharing a swing in the park and going as high as she could, which was reflected in her adult life, too. Everything she did, she did to the max. She eventually left her family home to live in The Meadows, in Coulby Newham, for many years. Natalie had a very caring nature, which was reflected in her work in the care industry for many years. In more recent years, she decided to turn her hand to entrepreneurship, which she flourished in and managed to grow a very successful business, as The Clean Queen, serving clients and business owners as far as Whitby. Natalie wanted a big funeral with the joining of her many family and friends, to celebrate the incredible life they shared with her. As it stands, celebrations are currently restricted by COVID but it is the family’s wish to organise a large celebration as soon as restrictions are lifted, to honour what Natalie would have truly wanted. However, family and friends are still invited to stand outside St.Bede’s chapel in Teesside Crematorium, Acklam Road, Middlesbrough, where you can join the live streaming of the service from your own devices and take part from outside. The family then invite family and friends to follow Natalie to her final resting place in Thorntree Cemetery, Cargo Fleet Lane, Middlesbrough, where you may stand, socially distanced