Mary Nichols

Mary T. Harrington Nichols, 87, passed away in her home in West Lafayette, IN, on Saturday December 23, 2017 surrounded by her loving family. Mary was born on May 7, 1930 to the late John and Mary Ellen (Tolen) Harrington. Mary was looking forward to celebrating her 68th wedding anniversary on December 31, 2017. After attending Indiana University for one year, Mary followed her true calling to become a young farm wife in Benton County. A mother to eight children, Mary leaned heavily on her Catholic faith and her devotion to the Blessed Mother. While balancing the demands of farm life and active children, Mary found time to be involved in the community. St. Patrick’s parish of Oxford provided an opportunity to be a religious education teacher and a contributor to the funeral dinner ministry. Mary enjoyed her participation with Meals on Wheels and a local vocal group, the “Musettes”. She was very proud of her position as Vice Chairman of Benton County’s Democratic Party in the 60’s and 70’s. From 1985 to 1995 she transferred her skills in the kitchen to Purdue University’s food services department where she happily referred to her title as “the chop chop lady”! Mary’s faith was never needed more than in the past few years when she bore an unkind combination of blindness, cancer of the spine, Parkinson’s and the cruel disease of Lewy Body Dementia. These challenges she endured with grace and humility - her devoted husband, Tommy, always at her side. Mary / Mom / Grandma will be missed by those that survive: husband, Tom, children… Penny Pava, Rick Nichols, Nancy (Ron) Surface, Cindy Nichols Shoemaker, Mary Jayne (Mike) Downey and Erin (Tom) Petry. Her love also lives on in 20 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her son, Jacky, in 1963, son, Mike (Maureen), just this past February, her parents, brother Jack Harrington, sisters Rosalie Schmitter and Anne Kerker and granddaughter, Heather Barnard. Mary’s family would like to recognize and thank the caring staff at St. Mary’s nursing home where she resided for much of 2017 as well as the support and guidance of Franciscan Hospice these last few days.Friends may call at St. Patrick’s Church in Oxford on Saturday Dec. 30 from 10:00 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 PM, Fr. Ambrose Ziegler and Fr. Robert Klemme officiating. The interment will follow at Oxford Catholic Cemetery. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home, Oxford, is honored to serve Mary’s family. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com

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