At the age of 13, Natella and her family emigrated to the United States, and she went on to live in New York, and later in Milburn, New Jersey. As a young girl, Natella was hard-working. She was forced to drop out of school to help support her family. She used a dictionary to learn how to read and write in English.

In 1937, she married Dominic Natella. The couple had two daughters: Mary and Cynthia. In her later years, Natella and her husband moved to Florida. Her husband passed away in April 1974. Natella eventually moved into an assisted living facility. At the age of 107, she was still able to walk unassisted, and was also still able to walk on the stairs every day.

On 8 April 2020, following the death of 109-year-old Grazia Tarulli, she became the oldest known living person born in Basilicata region.

On 7 May 2022, following the death of 112-year-old Caterina Abate, she became the oldest known living emigrant woman from Italy.

On 1 June 2022, following the death of 112-year-old Delio Venturotti, she became the oldest known living emigrant from Italy.

On 11 June 2023, following the death of 113-year-old Ada Avila, she became the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Florida.

As of 9 April 2026, she lives in Fort Myers, Florida (USA).

On her wedding, aged 25, in 1937.

On her 107th birthday in 2019.

On her 110th birthday in 2022.