Natalie Svetlichny Wagener

Natalie Svetlichny Wagener departed her loving family on January 6, 2026 at the age of 73 from complications of Parkinson's Disease.

Natalie was born March 20, 1952 in New York, NY to Vadim and Antonina Svetlichny. She was a lifelong student of the world and embraced life with humor and curiosity.

During her young life she was a member of the US Army and attended Florida State University where she met her husband, Jerry R. Wagener. They went on to have one son, Michael, and settled down in Hurst, TX, near her parents.

She later earned her Master's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington where she then became a college professor. Teaching was her passion and she shined her love and wisdom on all who came to her classroom.

She retired from teaching in 2018 to care for her father and family. She lovingly nicknamed her family the Whim Whams and they went on to have many wacky adventures together.

She is survived by her cherished granddaughter, Kory M. Wagener, her beloved son, Michael D. Wagener, her loving daughter-in-law, Natalie Rose Wagener, and her devoted father, Vadim Svetlichny.

Services will be held at Lucas Funeral Home Hurst on January 21 at 2:00 PM and presided over by Bishop Eleil Gerasim, Rector of The St. Seraphim Orthodox Cathedral.