Janice M. Nichols

Keene, New Hampshire
Marie (Townsend) Nichols, 85, a resident at Langdon Place, 136 Arch Street, passed peacefully early Sunday morning, June 10, 2018 at the nursing facility, following a period of declining health.
Janice was born on August 4, 1932 to Herbert and Leola (Turner) Townsend, in Montague, Massachusetts. She was educated in Greenfield Public Schools and was a graduate of GHS in the Class of 1950. Janice furthered her education by attending the former Northampton Commercial College (Northampton, MA) graduating with a certificate in secretarial studies in the Class of 1951. Janice worked for the Springfield Ordinance District (Springfield, MA) from 1951-1952

She married Richard Raymond Nichols on May 9, 1953 in the Second Congregational Church of Greenfield. They made their home, raised their two daughters, Doreen Marie and Rebecca Ann and were active in the Greenfield community. Janice worked as a legal secretary for the Law Office of Attorney Sebastian Ruggeri from 1952-1974, as well as the Franklin County Planning Department from 1978-1983 and for the FRCOG (Franklin Regional Council of Government) from 1983-1987 prior to her retirement.

She was active in Girl Scouts when her daughters were young. Janice and Richie, maintained a cottage on Lake Wyola, where they enjoyed with their children, many summers and special occasions. Janice traveled to many destinations that included Las Vegas, Alaska and the provinces of Canada, including her mother’s birthplace of Nova Scotia. Janice also enjoyed playing an occasional round of golf. She was a member of the 2^nd Congregational Church of Greenfield since 1941.

An avid reader, she enjoyed works of fiction from her favorite authors. Janice was a crossword puzzle enthusiast, who could be found doing the newspaper’s daily puzzle. Eventually, she and Richie became “snow birds” and enjoyed spending the winters in Florida. They resided in Ft. Myers, New Smyrna Beach and lastly in Edgewater, FL. While in Florida, Janice was active in the “Red Hat Society”.

Janice was predeceased by her husband of nearly 46 years, on April 4, 1999. Sadly, she was also predeceased by her daughter Rebecca Ann Nichols on January 11, 2012. Janice remained in Florida until she relocated to Swayze, NH in 2013 to be closer to her daughter Doreen Marie Soskin and her husband Roy and their family. She resided there until entering Langdon Place in Keene, in June of 2014 due to failing health, where she received compassionate and loving care throughout her stay.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughter Doreen and her husband Roy, who were her caregivers, as well as by her grandchildren and great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Janice was also predeceased by her sisters: June C. Ellingwood, Marjorie R. Pochus and a granddaughter Kristen.

Janice’s end of life request was for simplicity. A graveside committal service will be observed on Monday, June 18, 2018 at 10:00AM in the Green River Cemetery, Greenfield, MA at the Nichol’s family lot located in section 38 of the cemetery. Jack Cooper, Celebrant, will be the officiant. Visiting hours are omitted.

Flowers are respectfully asked to be omitted, with expressions of affection in the form of a charitable contribution in Janice’s memory preferred to either, the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL, 60601 or to the Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA, 30309.

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