Fort Edward

Catherine Josephine Nichols, 96, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 18, 2024, at the Fort Hudson Nursing Center.

Born on February 22, 1928, in Staten Island, New York, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Catherine (Staats) Larkin.

On November 29, 1952, she married James Nichols, the love of her life and best friend, at the St. Mary’s Church in Staten Island. Catherine and James spent 54 wonderful and happy years of marriage together until James passed in 2006. Their love for each was infinite and together they raised six extraordinary children.

Catherine graduated from Fordham University in New York City in 1950 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management. She was one of only sixteen women graduating from Fordham that year in a class of almost four hundred. Catherine completed her degree while also working a full-time job to help support her mom. Catherine also earned her Master’s Degree in Education in 1970 from Wagner College in Staten Island. She started her career as a teacher in the NYC Public school system and eventually moved to Saint Joseph’s School where she taught fifth grade for many years. Catherine loved her students and would often go above and beyond to ensure that they were cared for both in and out of the classroom. To this day, her students often speak fondly of their fifth-grade class memories, especially of their teacher.

In 1976, the Nichols family relocated to Fort Edward, New York. They were welcomed with open arms by the wonderful people of Fort Edward and Catherine found many new friends who she considered family. Catherine worked at Sherwood Medical in Argyle as an administrative assistant in the Quality Control department. She loved the people at Sherwood and developed life-long friendships while working there.

Besides her husband, the greatest joy of Catherine’s life was her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren. She always took the time to thoroughly enjoy their company and made every moment they were together very special. She would often gather her kids up in the station wagon at a moment’s notice and take them on long car trips to explore historical landmarks, amusement parks and the family’s favorite vacation spot, Saranac Lake, NY. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and always had an activity planned, including baking cookies, mini-golfing, having sleepovers and attending their many sporting events, school functions, and other family gatherings. She was so happy to be a great grandmother and cherished every minute she had with her great grandchildren. Catherine always made her house a welcoming place and her entire family loved spending time there.

Catherine was an avid reader and would always have a good book with her that she checked out of the Fort Edward library. She also enjoyed crocheting and made many blankets and Christmas window decorations which she gave as gifts that brought joy to so many people. She also loved decorating her house for every holiday and enjoyed celebrating with her family with plenty of food and desserts. Catherine was a great cook but never had recipes for anything she made. She always said that she learned to cook by just watching her mom.

Catherine had a special way of spreading positivity by advising everyone to “keep a good thought” through all of life’s challenges. She loved to talk and would always tell a good story to her family, friends, and anyone who would listen. She touched so many lives in many different ways and people gravitated towards her because of her good nature and positive outlook on life. She understood the value of hard work and this strong work ethic carried through her own life and was also instilled in her children.

In addition to her parents and husband, Catherine was predeceased by her daughter, Kathleen Conti (Joseph), her son, Robert Nichols; her son-in-law, Kenneth Hand; her granddaughter, Katie Anne Nichols; her sisters Ruth Larkin and Alice Fischer (Bud) and her brothers Edwin Larkin (Catherine) and John Larkin (Marjorie).

Left to cherish her memory include her sons, James Nichols (Susan) and Stephen Nichols; her daughters, Mary Hand and Patricia Rankin (Rory); her daughter-in-law Mary Nichols; 12 grandchildren: Kimberly, Katie, Timothy Nichols; Annie Nichols; Kenneth, Catherine, Stephanie, Christina and Dani Hand; Stephen, Daniel and Michael Rankin; her great-grandchildren: Madison, Gabriella, and Molly Sue Capasso; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends.

Family and friends may call from 12pm to 2pm, on Sunday, March 24, 2024, at M. B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 82 Broadway, Fort Edward.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00am on Monday, March 25, 2024, at the St. Joseph’s Church in Fort Edward.

A Rite of Committal will be conducted after the Funeral Mass and will then proceed to Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, Schuylerville.

The family would like to thank Fort Hudson Nursing Center for the care and nurturing that they provided Catherine over the last four years. Donations in Catherine’s name can be made to the Fort Hudson Nursing Center, 319 Broadway, Fort Edward NY 12828.