Natalie Gutzeit; Camarillo Homemaker

Natalie Gutzeit, an 81-year Ventura County resident, died Sunday at her Camarillo home after a 15-month illness. She was 83.

Born Natalie DeMateis on May 13, 1912, in Los Angeles, Gutzeit was reared in Bardsdale, an unincorporated town near Fillmore, and resided in Camarillo for the past 40 years.

She was a homemaker and active in the community, serving as a member of the Mary Health Guild, Ventura County Garden Club and Los Robles Country Club Women’s Club. Gutzeit was also Pleasant Valley Hospital Auxiliary’s flower chairperson and a member of St. Columba’s Episcopal Church since 1954, where she participated in the Highlander Club and Altar Guild, sang in the choir, assisted in landscaping the church grounds when it was constructed, furnished floral arrangements for the altar and founded the church’s annual pit barbecue.

Gutzeit was also an avid gardener, floral arranger and golfer.

She is survived by her husband, Clarmont; her daughter, Jan K. Joswick of Cardiff By The Sea; her stepsons, Clary C. Gutzeit of Kaaawa on Oahu, Hawaii, and Ray W. Gutzeit of Ocean Springs, Miss.; and four grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. today at Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary in Camarillo. A graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday at Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village. The Rev. Alfred Smith of St. Columba’s and the Rev. James Mahan of the United Methodist Church in Camarillo will officiate at the service.

Memorial donations may be made to Ventura County Rescue Mission in Oxnard or Mary Health Of The Sick Convalescent & Nursing Hospital in Newbury Park.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary in Camarillo.