Joan A. (Downing) Nichols, 82, of New Bedford died at home May 19, 2017 after a brief illness. She was the wife of Ronald A. Nichols.
Born in Acushnet, the daughter of the late Frank Downing and Blanche (Fahey) Downing, Joan was raised in Acushnet and lived most of her life in New Bedford. She was valedictorian of her class at Normandin Junior High School and then graduated with honors from New Bedford High School.
Joan enjoyed all types of sewing, including quilting and crafting doll clothing for her friends and grandchildren. She enjoyed spending winters in North Port, Florida with her snowbird friends and taking cruises to the Caribbean, Europe, and Alaska.
In the summer she looked forward to gatherings at the family cottage on Fearing Pond in Myles Standish State Forest, where she spent many overnight sleepovers and daytime picnics and cookouts, along with swimming, sailing, and canoeing with her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband of 61 years and four children, twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren: Brian E. Nichols and his wife, Nancy, and son Matthew; David W. Nichols and his wife, Debbie, and children Kelly, Sean, Conor, and Rachel; Catherine J. Nichols and her husband, James E. Blanchard, and his four children Jeffery, Felicia, Angie, and Molly; and Steven A. Nichols and his wife, Nalia, and their sons Jordan, Shaun (and his wife, Kathryn), and Adam. She was also the great grandmother of Kelly Nichols’ two children, Aison and Leah Nichols.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Friday at 11 AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Sacred Heart Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday morning from 10-11 AM. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.