Winifred COBURN Obituary

I knew Winifred when she lived in Beverly Hills as her son Antony (Tony) and I went to Beverly Hills High School together. She was a lovely, elegant lady.

Tony played the piano well and loved jazz. I played drums and our mutual friend Bob Welch played guitar. We played together at high school parties and were very popular. Bob Welch later became the Lead Guitar for Fleetwood Mac.

Tony always talked about going back to Auckland where he was born. We lost contact through the years when I moved to Europe, but I believe he finally returned with Winifred to his beloved New Zealand. I will miss them both.

I will miss you aunty win.

I first met Winifred some twenty years ago at the launch of the Oscar Natzka recordings CD and she would later become a dear friend. Wde kept in regular touch by phone and Whenever we were in Tauranga we would pay her a visit and be fascinated and spellbound by her memories of life as the wife of a famous opera singer and later, a Hollywood star. Winifred was herself an accomplished singer and but for her marriage to Oscar at a time when it was fashionable for a woman to put her husband's career before her own, she may well have become a star herself.

Their separation for much of the war, and Oscar's early death was tragedy enough and the loss of her three sons was more than anyn mother should have to bear but Winifred was a battler and always put on a brave face for her visitors. We would like Jan and the family for the wonderful care they gave Winifred in her final days, and offer them our warmest thoughts and condolences on the loss of a very remarkable lady who will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone fortunate enough to have known her.

Peter Fry and Libby Squires
(Raumati South, Kapiti Coast)

COBURN, Winifred Jean (nee Clements). Passed away on October 01, 2017, peacefully , in her 100th year. Widow of Oscar Natzka and Charles Coburn, and pre-deceased by her sons Nicky, Antony and Robert. Aunt to Paul Clements and Dianne Mason. Our memories of a kind, loving, elegant and strong woman will be with us always. Lo! Some we loved the loveliest and the best That Time and Fate of all their vintage prest Have drunk their cup a round or two before And one by one crept silently to rest.