Lorraine Nicholson
Florence
It is with broken hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our wonderful, caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Lorraine Nicholson, on Monday, December 27th, 2021, with her loving family by her side.
Born in Florence on January 28, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Myrtle (Dewfall) Higham.
She was the matriarch of our family and in her early years, also took on the role of father to her girls. She was the thread that held our family together and she always stood in the shadows so that others could shine. She gave everything and asked for nothing in return. She devoted and sacrificed her life to ensure her children had what they needed. She loved each of us in her own, special way.
Mom possessed an immeasurable capacity for love, compassion, understanding, generosity and friendship. Her favorite saying was “it could always be worse.”
She will be remembered for her courageous spunk, devotion to her family, wonderful sense of humour, her love of hearing or telling a good joke, and of course, her famous meat pies. Her home was always warm and welcoming to those young and old alike.
Mom worked for several years for F.W. Woolworth Co., James Simm’s Store, Florence, and Atlantic St. Dairy, Sydney Mines. She was a member of Wilson United Church, Florence, prior to its closing, a member of the Humby Unit, an Explorers leader and a Sunday school teacher.
Mom knew joy, but she knew life’s challenges, too. Through it all, she would offer words of strength. Her humor, wisdom and faith seemed to prevail.
Left to mourn her passing is her daughter Trudy (Frank) Herritt, her cherished granddaughter Tanya (Jason) Clarkson, grandsons Steven Herritt and Michael Bowne, great-grandchildren Michaela Jessome, Aubrey, Ashton and Ashley Herritt, whom she adored. Her step great-grandchildren Grace and Emily Clarkson, her sister Sylvia (Micky) McMullen, son-in-law Charlie Bowne, nieces and nephews, her step-children Lennie Pardy, Sally Popovich and Nick Nicholson.
She was predeceased by her first husband Ronald Ramsdale, second husband Roderick Nicholson, as well as her daughters Jackie and Ronalda, brothers Everett and Harry Higham, sisters-in-law Geraldine and Pearl Higham.
She will be dearly missed by her good friends Bibsey MacKeigan, Josephine Clark, Edie Brown and Isabelle (Muir) MacKenzie.
Thank you to the staff of the Veteran’s Unit at Harbourview Hospital, who affectionately called her “The Queen.”
The family would like to extend a special thank you to her “Earth Angel,” Shannon Dove, for always going above and beyond to keep Mom happy, comfortable and laughing when COVID restricted us from seeing her. She loved Shannon like a daughter.
The funeral service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cape Breton branch of the SPCA, or a charity of your choice. Words of comfort may be forwarded to her family at www.jmjobesfuneralhome.com
“ANGELS”
When the road is steep and rocky
And the way is hard to find,
When your problems all oppress you
And the world seems so unkind,
Just reach out a hand in silence,
Take a moment you can spare,
Soon you’ll feel your special angels
All around you everywhere.
When the night is dark and stormy
And the stars forget to shine,
When you feel that sleep eludes you
They will bring you a peace divine.
When you see the sun awaken
And you sense a bright, new start,
You will know your special angels
Took your hand and touched your heart.
— Iris Hesselden