Frances Ann Grattan Nickels

Frances Ann Grattan Nickels

Tinton Falls

Frances Ann Grattan Nickels, a resident of Seabrook Village, Tinton Falls passed away peacefully at her home on May 22, 2014. Mrs. Nickels, a retired educator, was born and raised in Schenectady New York, moving from West Hartford, Connecticut to Elberon in 1955. She was predeceased by her beloved husband James McKell Nickels, a Corporate Attorney for General Electric Company and the Allied Signal Company of New Jersey, her cherished parents, John and Mary Grattan, sister's Catherine Grattan, Mary Grattan, and Elizabeth Schneider and her twin brother, Arthur Grattan. She will be greatly missed by her son James Arthur Nickels and his wife Debbie of Fair Haven. She was always proud of her granddaughters; Kara Nickels, a graduate of Cornell University and Kate Nickels, a graduate of American University. Mrs. Nickels was devoted to her nephew Floyd Schneider and his wife Julie of Fort Wayne Indiana and nephew Arthur Schneider of Mildale Connecticut. She is also survived by her cherished southern nieces.

Mrs. Nickels received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Southern California, a Masters Degree in Speech Pathology from Columbia University (internship at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center) and was a Doctoral Candidate at Yale University. Her career in education brought her to California, New York and Connecticut ending her career in the Long Branch school system as a kindergarten teacher and a speech pathologist.

Mrs. Nickels was a member of the National Education Association, the New Jersey Education Association, The American Association of University Women, the Long Branch Women's Club, the Monmouth University Library Association, and the National Association of Speech and Communication.

Mrs. Nickels' lifelong faith led her to Saint Michael's Church in Long Branch where she was a member of the Alter Rosary Society. Her interests included supporting others in need such as with her volunteer work for Hospice. She enjoyed art history, music, poetry and travel. Her greatest passion was her family and dear friends. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 27 from 4-7 pm at the Damiano Funeral Home, 191 Franklin Ave., (corner of Third Ave.), Long Branch. Funeral Wednesday, 9:30 am at the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated at 10:30 am at St. Michael's R.C. Church, West Long Branch. Interment will follow at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, 1833 Front St., Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. The family invites you to leave a letter of condolence at www.damianofuneralhome.com.