Helen Martha Nicola

Our hearts are shattered by the loss of our loving and devoted mom, cherished wife, loyal sister, fun grandma, and caring friend, Helen Martha Nicola. Our flower loving, Pinterest pinning, Facebook following warrior of a woman lost the 8-month battle to bile duct cancer on September 15, 2019 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Throughout her 78 years of life, she and her husband, Bob, showed her family unconditional love, patience, humor, support and most importantly, the love of family and being there for one another. Her “go with the flow” and patient demeanor, along with her bright smile was golden and loved by her friends and family. Her love story with her husband and best friend, Bob went beyond their 57 years of marriage. Born July 29, 1941 and raised in Detroit, they attended Kindergarten together at age 6, were high school sweethearts at age 16 and married at age 20 and 21, respectively. These 72 years of knowing each other contributed to a love and bond beyond no other. When not joined at the hip with her husband, she loved to read on the porch while looking out at Gourdeck Lake, enjoyed making crafts for her family, spending time at their beloved home they built in Florida, being a long time active member of the Portage Garden Club, Sisterhood at the Portage Senior Center and Red Hatter's Club, listening to 50’s music and playing slot machines because she never met a slot machine she didn't like. Helen lived an amazing life which started in Detroit with her parents and younger sister, Lee. She worked at Kresge to put her husband through dental school, moved to Portage, Michigan in 1968 to help her husband open his new dental practice and start their real estate hobby, all while raising four children under the age of six years old. Throughout the years, she spent countless hours working at the children's schools, chauffeuring children to freezing hockey arenas for practices, attending basketball and other sport games, watching her kids learn to swim, ski, bowl, skate and other activities which all included the words “Watch me, Mom!” and her encouraging words of “ Just try your best, that’s all we ask.” Her love for her family was always first and foremost and her legacy of family love will live forever. While she joined her mom and dad (Lillian and Leo Grabiasz) Aunt, Christine Grabiasz, mother and father in law, Rose and Bill Nicola and other wonderful family and friends in Heaven, her spirit lives on here on earth with her husband, Dr. Robert Nicola, children, Lisa Nicola, Linda Nicola Feehan (Greg), Bill Nicola (Amy) and Dr. Bob Nicola ( Melissa), treasured grandchildren, Will, Claire, Olivia, Rylee, Sophia and Landyn, sister, Lee Giordano (Russ), niece, Roxanne Sternfeld (Michael, Jordan and Peyton), and sister in law, Carol (Ralph). She will be missed beyond words by her family but will be seen and felt every day in their surroundings and themselves. A Celebration of Helen’s Life will be held on October 20, 2019 from 12:00-3:00pm at Stuart Manor at the Celery Flats 7340 Garden Lane, Portage, MI 49002. In lieu of flowers, donations under Helen’s name would be greatly appreciated at Portage Community Outreach Center(portagecommunitycenter.org) or the Michigan Garden Clubs Scholarship Program (michigangardenclubs.org) or just plant a flower and dedicate it to Helen. Online condolences may be offered by visiting www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com.

Helen Martha Nicola

July 29, 1941 - September 15, 2019