JoAnn Nichols
March 20th, 1939 - January 11th, 2025
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JoAnn's Obituary
Longtime Berrien County resident and friend to many, JoAnn (Payne) Nichols passed away at home on January 11 after a long illness.
Jo was born on March 20, 1939 in Benton Harbor to Robert and Beatrice (Bryant) Payne. After graduating from Benton Harbor High School in 1957, Jo began her studies at Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago. Following a series of adventures that took her to the Western United States, she eventually returned to the Midwest, marrying her high school sweetheart, William A. Nichols in 1964. Together, they raised two children: Donald William and Katherine Madolyn.
Service to the community was of central importance to Jo who served as president to the St Catherine’s Guild at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in St Joseph where she organized a variety of philanthropic projects. Passionate about music and nature, Jo had a number of creative outlets including composing and playing music on the piano, drawing, cooking, and gardening.
Jo is survived by her son, Donald William of Chicago, her daughter, Katherine Madolyn of Lille, France, Donald’s two children, Cameron Nichols of Downer’s Grove, Il, and Jordan Nichols of Chicago, Il. Madolyn’s daughter is Amélie Béatrice Gonzalez of Lille, France.
Jo is preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
In accordance with her wishes, funeral services will be held at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 914 Lane Dr, St Joseph at 11:00 Friday January 17, 2025, with visitation from 10:30 till time of service. Interment will be at Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Paul’s Episcopal Church. Those wishing to share a memory of Jo online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Jo was born on March 20, 1939 in Benton Harbor to Robert and Beatrice (Bryant) Payne. After graduating from Benton Harbor High School in 1957, Jo began her studies at Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago. Following a series of adventures that took her to the Western United States, she eventually returned to the Midwest, marrying her high school sweetheart, William A. Nichols in 1964. Together, they raised two children: Donald William and Katherine Madolyn.
Service to the community was of central importance to Jo who served as president to the St Catherine’s Guild at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in St Joseph where she organized a variety of philanthropic projects. Passionate about music and nature, Jo had a number of creative outlets including composing and playing music on the piano, drawing, cooking, and gardening.
Jo is survived by her son, Donald William of Chicago, her daughter, Katherine Madolyn of Lille, France, Donald’s two children, Cameron Nichols of Downer’s Grove, Il, and Jordan Nichols of Chicago, Il. Madolyn’s daughter is Amélie Béatrice Gonzalez of Lille, France.
Jo is preceded in death by her husband and her parents.
In accordance with her wishes, funeral services will be held at St Paul’s Episcopal Church, 914 Lane Dr, St Joseph at 11:00 Friday January 17, 2025, with visitation from 10:30 till time of service. Interment will be at Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St Paul’s Episcopal Church. Those wishing to share a memory of Jo online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
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