Rose E. Nicolas, 84
Former Brockton resident
Dateline: Norton, MA
Rose E. (Rowe) Nicolas, 84, of Norton died peacefully in her home on Taunton Ave. in Norton on Friday November 24, 2006. She was lovingly cared for by her family and gratefully by Hospice of Attleboro before losing her battle with lung cancer. She was the beloved wife of the late Alvin “Bus” Nicolas, originally of San Francisco who passed away in 1990. They met while Al was on leave during the war and were wed in 1946.
Rose was born in New Bedford, MA on August 1, 1922. She was a loving daughter of the late Harry and Rose A. (Whalley) Rowe.
She grew up in Bridgewater, MA attending schools there and graduating from Bridgewater High School in 1940. During WWII, she volunteered in the efforts to assist our troops before they shipped out overseas. She attended the Brockton Business School and worked as a Full Charge Bookkeeper for many firms including SteelCraft Metal in Brockton. After retiring from the workplace, Rose focused her energies on raising her family.
She was an extremely bright, loving, and caring woman who always put the needs of her family first. Rose was a devout Catholic who believed strongly in her faith. Her depth and spiritual connection touched many of those who knew her closely. Rose was an optimist who believed the world was a better place today than when she was born. She believed in her country and as a member of the “Greatest Generation” she never sought accolades. Rose was comfortable in her knowledge that she would be an honest woman of high values and morals and in turn lead by example. Her shoulders were large for her family and friends to lean upon. Rose’s everyday kindness will be her legacy.
Rose recently had been volunteering at the Norton Historical Society and was very happy to have made some dear friends in her “New” home-town. She had also volunteered in the 1950s for the Perkins School for the Deaf and Blind as well as producing audio tapes during the 60s for the blind. Rose was a talented artist who enjoyed oil painting on glass, knitting, reading and writing poetry.
She had lived in Norton for the past 5 years and was formerly of Brockton and Bridgewater. While living in Brockton Rose was a communicant of St. Margaret’s Church and was a communicant of St. Thomas Aquinas Church while living in Bridgewater.
She was the proud Mom of three children; Eileen R. Wicklund and husband Peter of Wareham, John “Jack” Nicolas of Norton and the late Rosanna Nicolas. She was the loving grandmother of Daniel J. Nicolas and Kelly A. Nicolas both of Norton. She was the dear sister of Harriette Almquist and her husband Arnold of Needham, Eileen Condike and her husband George of Fitchburg and the late Earl Pershing Rowe who passed away earlier in 2006. Also surviving are her sister-in-laws Frederica Rowe and
Jacqueline Bauman, her brother-in-law Neil Jordan and her many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Her funeral, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Tuesday November 28th at 9:00 A.M. from the Norton Memorial Funeral Home 19 Clapp St. (Off Route 140, Taunton Ave.) Norton followed by a Mass of Christian burial celebrated at 10:00 A.M. in St. Mary’s Church, South Worcester St. Norton. Burial will be at a later date in St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Bridgewater.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday November 27th from 3-8 P.M. at the funeral home.
Those wishing may remember Rose by making donations in her memory to HOSPICE Community Visiting Nurse Agency, Inc. 10 Emory St. Attleboro, MA 02703.
To send the family a letter of sympathy or for additional information please visit www.nortonmemorial.com