Natalia Mikulandra

Brencic

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IN LOVING MEMORY

Natalia Mikulandra Brencic

Dec 25 1933 - Jan 17 2017

Natalia Mikulandra Brencic, known to many loved ones as “Nona”, passed away on January 17, 2017, at the age of 83. She was born on December 25th, 1933, to Jerko Mikulandra and Giovana Brencic in the peninsula of Istria, Italy. As a daughter of Istria, Natalia endured the calamities of World War II, which consequently had Italy cede the peninsula to Yugoslavia. She during her youth, against the backdrop of the great war’s aftermath, attended culinary school and discovered a passion for cooking that would last a lifetime. In her early twenties, she made the life-changing voyage from Istria to Chile and became the adoptee of a new culture and language. Natalia leaves a loving legacy in Istria of her only and adored son Gianni and spouse Marija, two beautiful grandchildren, Marijana and Renata, and two wonderful great-grandchildren, Erik and David. In Northern Chile, she met her husband Juan Collao and soon thereafter settled into his hometown of Combarbalá. A few years later Natalia would give birth to the light of her life and only daughter, Rosa Collao, in the town of Tocopilla. She would move to the United States to live with her daughter, Rosa, in 1994, the year of Juan’s death. Natalia once again made a new home in Texas where she lived the last decades of her life with her dear Rosa, Rosa’s husband (Natalia’s “adopted son”) Rene, her beloved grandchildren Cristian and spouse Isabel, Natalia, and Alejandro, and precious great-grandchildren, Lianna and Christian.

 

Nona found her greatest joy in cooking for those she loved and bringing people together; nothing made her happier than seeing her dear family and friends sitting around, relishing one of her many delectable meals. She often showed her affection through knitting, making gloves, winter caps, and sweaters for cherished loved ones. She was a true citizen of the world, having belonged to five different nation states (in addition to once being stateless), and living in three different continents over the span of her lifetime. She spoke Italian, Croatian, Spanish, English, and her mother tongue, Istrian. She will be remembered as "Nona", a woman with a selfless, tender, loving nature and vibrant, glowing smile. 

 

Natalia is survived by

 

Children 

 

Rosa Collao Mikulandra of Plano, Texas and Spouse Rene Cuevas of Plano, Texas

Gianni Trgo of Rasa, Istria and Marija Trgo of Rasa, Istria  

 

Grandchildren

 

Cristian Cuevas Collao of Plano, Texas and Spouse Isabel Cordonnier of Plano, Texas

Alejandro Cuevas Collao of Dallas, Texas

Natalia Cuevas Collao of Dallas, Texas

Marijana Trgo of Rasa, Istria 

Renata Trgo of Rasa, Istria 

 

Great Grandchildren

 

Lianna Cuevas Cordonnier of Plano, Texas

Christian Cuevas Cordonnier of Plano, Texas 

Erik Trgo of Rasa, Istria

David Trgo of Rasa, Istria 

 

She was preceded in death by her spouse, Juan Collao and parents, Jerko Mikulandra and Giovana Brencic.

 

 

 

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Memorials

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