Mary A. Nichols

Falmouth- Mary Ann Loughery Nichols passed away peacefully on December 14, 2021 after a 15 year battle with MS. Having moved in 2020 to Falmouth Maine to be closer to family, she and her husband Norman (of 65 years) have both been inordinately grateful for the kind care she received from the staff at Falmouth by the Sea. Mary lived her childhood in Muskegon MI and graduated from Muskegon H.S. On a winter break from the University of Michigan, she met her future husband at the Daniels paper company over a cup of coffee and chose to follow him to Boston and ultimately New York where they lived for much of their life together. While starting their family, Mary pursued her passion for medicine and got her nursing degree from Pace University in Westchester NY. Over her career, Mary practiced a wide range of nursing skills working in the Blood Bank, Emergency Room, Cardiac Care, orthopedic and eye surgery centers. While it was Norman's career that took them around the world (living in NY, Brussels and Hawaii), it never took her long to find a way to practice nursing wherever they lived - even in French! Mary came from a long line of nurses and doctors (Father, Mother, Aunt, daughter, granddaughters) and even after her career chose to travel with a Doctors Without Borders partner performing surgeries in Panama and Morocco. When she wasn't working, Mary loved horseback riding, playing tennis and golf and entertaining with their many close friends and family. When she was stricken with MS and struggled to walk, she would be perfectly happy sitting in a chair trying to hit golf balls. She was a 'tough cookie', many of her friends would say. Mary continued her service on the Board of Kendal-on-Hudson, was a committed member of the Thursday Club, a philanthropic group that gives hundreds of thousands annually to worthy non-profits in her community. And, she was a dedicated member of the Scarborough Singers finding great joy in sharing the gift of music. Upon her death, the many tributes spoke to her positive spirit, care for others, warmth and hospitality, strength and elegance. And one that speaks volumes - "She brought a lifetime of good things to the world" She will be greatly missed by her surviving family - Sisters, Lois (d.Martin) Waalkes and Jeanne DeVette, husband, Norman; daughters, Elizabeth (Stephen) McBrady and Susan (Kathleen Wood) Nichols; grandchildren, Dr. Megan McBrady (Michael Mack), Christopher, Michael and Kathryn McBrady; great grandchildren, Molly and Annie Jane Mack. She is predeceased by her mother, Bertha (Clock) Loughery DeVette and fathers, Harold Loughery and Paul DeVette. At the family's request all services will be private. Arrangements are under the direction of Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland, ME. To visit Mary's memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com To honor Mary's life, the family suggests donations to Doctors without Borders, the Open Door family medical center or a community health center of your choice.