Nadia Nedzel

Nadia Nedzel, a cherished mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away on March 16, 2024, at the age of 99. Born on September 18, 1924, she was the daughter of Boris and Nina Luban, who instilled in her a love for life and art. Nadia often credited her longevity to the exceptional upbringing provided by her beloved parents. Her father was a renowned Russian American portrait painter who immigrated to the United States in1923. Her mother, Nina, was a feisty multi-lingual scholar who excelled in both the health sciences and the arts.

Throughout her life, Nadia was a beacon of creativity and generosity. Her artistic talents were boundless; she possessed a rare ability to express herself through various mediums, including oil paints, acrylics, pencil sketches, and sculpture. In her 20s, she was a successful designer of hand-painted lamps in New York. In her late 40s, even while raising 5 children, Nadia graduated from the Chicago Academy of Fine Art with a 4.0. Her portfolio ranged from exquisite landscapes to captivating portraits, abstracts, and surrealistic pieces, each reflecting her unique perspective and creativity.

In her later years, Nadia found purpose and joy in creating colored pencil drawings for family, friends and even friends of friends. She always gave the drawings free of charge, finding fulfillment in the act of giving and spreading enjoyment through her creations. She was recently featured by Growing Bolder and Humana in “The New 65” art exhibit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RUuifv_68g.

As is common among creatives, Nadia had two endearing personality qualities. She loved a good laugh and could be downright goofy at times. From water fights in the kitchen to fencing lessons at Halloween with a light saver, Nadia embraced life with joy and encouraged others to join the fun.

She also had a fiery temperament, firmly believing in expressing her point of view with conviction. However, while she was strong in her initial stance, she was often able to appreciate the other person's point of view in time. The combination of being both lighthearted and feisty correlated with her longevity, as she faced life’s challenges with perspective, determination, courage, and grace.

Beyond artistic endeavors, Nadia was an avid reader and a passionate follower of current events. One of her favorite genres was biographical literature which enriched her understanding of history and humanity. She was also an animal lover and a cat enthusiast.

Nadia had a profound affection for both her children and extended family, which also surrounded herself with a select group of close friends. She cherished these bonds even during times of strain. Notably, following her divorce from her husband, Gleb Nedzel, they forged a lasting friendship, even embarking on family trips together. Nadia's character epitomized integrity, resilience, and kindness. She advocated for standing firm in one's beliefs and consistently exhibited care and compassion. Moreover, she considered family not only those born to her but also dear friends, nurturing these relationships for over 50 years.

Nadia leaves behind a legacy of five children: Nadia Nedzel, Anissa Gage, Derrick Nedzel, Jared Nedzel, and Kira King, along with five grandchildren - Chantal Gicquel, Michael San Miguel, Valerie King, Alexander King, and Katya King - and three great-grandchildren - Marcel Gicquel, Auguste Gicquel, and Laurent Gicquel. In her heart, she regarded Timothy Belton to be one of her sons.

While Nadia didn’t quite make it to her 100th birthday, she did make it to her 100th year. Although Nadia preferred to forego a formal memorial service, her spirit lives on in the hearts of all who were touched by her warmth, creativity, and generosity. She will be dearly missed and forever remembered as an inspiration and guiding light to those who had the privilege of knowing her.

In honoring Nadia's memory, donations to the Spay the Strays (https://spaythestrays.rescuegroups.org/) are welcomed, reflecting her lifelong commitment to the welfare of animals.