Our mother, Rosemary M. Nichols, has joined her husband, our father, Warren J. Nichols Sr., at the big polka dance in the sky.
Rosemary was born on September 18, 1931, to Zelma and Milo Potes, and died on April 23, 2025. Four of her five siblings survive her, Norveta aka Bonnie Nichols (William Bondie), Nancy Erni, Milo (Betty) Potes, and Diane (Paul) Turner. Another sister, Angeline (Kenneth) Page, died in 2007.
All of her life, Rosemary was known for her beautiful smile. This captivated our father who proposed to her every Friday night throughout the summer of 1949, and they married on October seventh of that year. Their marriage endured until Dad’s death on April 3, 2008. They had four children, and we are Susan (Charles Vanderwell) Nichols, Warren J. Nichols Jr., Annette (Lee Weida) Nichols, and Jonathan (Judith) Nichols. Jon died on April 10, 2008, and is sadly missed by us all. We were a lively handful for Mom and Dad, but they loved us just the same. As years passed, Mom treasured being at the family gatherings that included her grandchildren, Damien Henning, Brandon (Jody) Henning, Jill Nichols (Allison) Slamon, Natalie (Amy) Blackburn, Hank (Isabel) Dickson, Christopher Rhoden, Nathan (Charlotte) Rhoden, Ryan (Laura) Nichols, Jonathan Harless, Jonathan (Melody) Nichols, Cristin (Julie) Carreiro, and Desmond Nichols, and her numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She enjoyed extended family gatherings, especially reunions with her many cousins, nieces and nephews.
After a number of years as a homemaker, Rosemary went to work at Adrian State Bank as a teller, and worked later at Citi Bank in Jackson after Mom and Dad moved to Lake Columbia in Brooklyn. Mom loved life and spent time with many hobbies, including ceramics, boating and swimming, golf, playing cards, and dancing with Dad. More then once, they cleared the dance floor as people moved to the side to watch them polka. Mom enjoyed cooking and was adventurous in the kitchen, mostly with grand success except for the famous egg roll debacle. She made up for this with her delicious meals and homemade peanut brittle that she gave to family and friends every Christmas. Mom and Dad spent their winters in Bradenton, Florida for a few years and loved the warmth and the many friends they made there.
After Dad’s death, Mom seemed truly lost, but her optimism and resilience helped her rebuild her life. She loved activities at the Adrian Senior Center, where she served on the Advisory Board. It was there that she learned to make the Hungarian folded stars that grace our Christmas trees every year. Mom also served on the Lenawee Nutrition Council, and volunteered at the Rea Literacy Center in Adrian. She attended Bethany Assembly of God church and had a strong faith and enduring love of God, her family and friends. Mom loved chocolate, especially Ghiradelli dark chocolate mint squares. If you visited Mom, or did a favor for her, you always left with a square or two in your pocket.
Many people have commented on the bright light that was our mother. We loved her ready laugh, her hilarious inability to successfully tell a joke, and her absolute joy in living. We will miss her always.
Please join us in remembering Rosemary M. Nichols at the Anderson-Marry Funeral Home in Adrian. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025 from 5 – 7 p.m. The memorial service for Rosemary will take place on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Private inurnment will take place in Lenawee Hills Memorial Park in Adrian.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Rosemary are suggested to benefit Bethany Assembly of God or the Rhea Literacy Center. Friends can express sympathies to the family online by visiting the tribute wall at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Arrangements have been made with the guidance of the Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Adrian