Sheryl Cara Lanman Nichols

Sheryl Cara Lanman Nichols

AGE: 34 • Robbinsville

Sheryl Cara Lanman Nichols, 34, a courageous, compassionate and luminescent woman, died of breast cancer Aug. 18, surrounded by her loving husband and family at home in Robbinsville. Born in New Brunswick, Sheryl grew up in East Brunswick and graduated from East Brunswick High School. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology at Rutgers College, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and spent a semester studying in Valencia, Spain. Sheryl's compassion and concern for others led her to volunteer with the student counseling hotline, answering calls and training new volunteers. As an undergraduate, she began her career in the domestic violence field, working weekends at Women Aware's shelter for victims of domestic violence. After graduation, she remained there as a counselor, also helping facilitate support groups for Latina women. She traveled twice with Habitat for Humanity to build homes in the Dominican Republic and volunteered with the Domestic Violence Response Team in New Brunswick. In 2008, she returned to Rutgers for her master's degree at the School of Social Work. There, she worked on research projects for the Center on Violence Against Women and Children, After graduating in 2010, she became a bilingual social worker at Womanspace, Inc., in Lawrenceville, where she was devoted to helping her clients remain safe and heal from trauma.

In 2009, Sheryl met Justin Nichols, the love of her life, who would remain steadfastly by her side throughout the challenges to come. They were married Oct. 13, 2012, a month after her diagnosis. Throughout her illness, she remained an optimist, rebounding from several dire prognoses to enjoy life to the fullest despite the toll it took on her body. She confronted her disease with grace, wit and courage. Sheryl's luminous smile and warm, engaging personality captivated everyone; her circle of friends grew exponentially wherever she went. She loved animals, especially her and Justin's cats, Samantha, Sadie and Sarge, and their adored rescue dog, Jackson. She, Justin and even Jackson were committed vegans. Sheryl also was an expert cook, who delighted in sharing her vegan dishes. She was a regular at the Breast Cancer Resource Center in Princeton and participated in many groups, such as the Young Survival Coalition. She was an empathetic friend to other young breast cancer survivors and advocated for genetic testing for all women for the BRCA mutations. In addition to her beloved husband, Sheryl is survived by her parents, Steven and Sandra Lanman of East Brunswick; brother Scott Lanman of Rockville, Md.; grandmother, Stella Sloan of Galloway; grandfather Ludwig Hahn of Pembroke Pines, Fla.; an aunt, uncle, nieces, and cousins. She was the granddaughter of the late Marion Hahn and Robert S. Lanman.

Services were held Friday, Aug. 21 at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, New Brunswick, officiated by Rabbi Bennett Miller. Burial was in Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge. Shiva will be observed at the family home in East Brunswick through Wednesday evening. Arrangements were under the direction of the Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, 239 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sheryl Lanman Nichols Memorial Scholarship Fund to support a graduate student at the Rutgers School of Social Work planning to work in the domestic violence field. Make checks for the fund payable to the Rutgers University Foundation and mail to 7 College Ave., Winants Hall, New Brunswick, N.J., 08901, or donate online at Support.rutgers.edu/NicholsMemorial. Donations also may be made to Womanspace, Inc., 1530 Brunswick Ave., Lawrenceville, N.J., 08648.