June
20, 1911 - Nov. 9, 2008SOUTH BEND - Alice M. Nichols, 97, departed this earthly life for her heavenly life on Sunday, November 9, 2008, in South Bend, at her home. She was born on June 20, 1911, in Cypress Inn, TN, to John and Ora (Balentine) Vickery. She moved to South Bend in 1941 with her husband, Edgar Nichols, and small daughter from Florence, AL. Alice was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on January 13, 1985; a son, Gary Nichols in 1999; a great-grandson, Evan Lambrechts in 2002; and a son-in-law, Gerald Belcher in 1997. Alice is survived by her daughter, Alice Juanita (Richard) Shafer; her grandchildren, Vickie (Mark) Lambrechts, Mark Minne, all of South Bend, and Coley (Nikki) Nichols-Thomas of Radford, VA; great-granddaughter, Sarah (James) of South Bend; and two sisters, Ola Tomlin of Mishawaka and Beatrice (Bobby) Broyles of Savannah, TN. She is also survived by her extended families, Dick and Chris Shafer and family of Mishawaka, Leonard and Etta Nichols and family, and Gloria Smith and family, all of Florence, AL, Hazel Richards and family of TN, John and Connie Stratton and family of CA; and many nieces and nephews. Alice was a homemaker most of her life. She was a wonderful Southern cook and loved making big meals for her family and friends. She especially loved to decorate and cook Christmas dinner for her family. Alice loved working in her flower gardens and taking care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed going to garage/yard sales and collecting anything she liked. She enjoyed taking vacations to Watersmeet, MI, and fishing with her daughter and son-in-law, and enjoyed going to Sebring, FL, in the winters with them. She drove her car and did her shopping into her nineties. Alice was known for her kindness to others. She was a very strong and independent woman, and very protective of her family. Alice attended the Ireland Road Church of God. A special thank you to Kelly Thompson and Suzanne Becsei for helping with her care, and to Hospice for all their help. The family asks that contributions in memory of Alice be made to Camp Millhouse, 25600 Kelly Road, South Bend, IN 46614, which will also honor her late great-grandson, Evan, as he loved attending the camp during the last few years of his life. Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 7 PM today in the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Wednesday, November 12, in the funeral home. Her great-nephew, Dr. Daniel Nichols, pastor of Gardendale Baptist Church of Warrior, AL, and Rev. Mark Muncy, pastor of Ireland Road Church of God, Mishawaka, will officiate. Her final resting place will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola, IN, beside her husband. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.plamerfuneralhomes.com.