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We were informed today that Mary Jean Sarich Nichols passed away Saturday, July 25, 2020 Mary Jean had suffered for several years with a pulmonary issue. Husband Jim said that she passed fairly peacefully after dinner with friends. Jim indicated that there would be no services. Ron and Gail Rardin.
Mary Jean Nicholls - August 28, 1944 ~ July 25, 2020
Mary Jean Nicholls, age 75, passed away peacefully in her home on July 25, with her husband, Jim Nicholls, by her side. Mary Jean was born and raised in Seattle, being the first of three siblings born to first generation Croatians. Her family heritage in Seattle dated back to the 1920s. She graduated from Lincoln High School, earned her AA degree at North Seattle Community College with honors, and completed her BA degree cum laude at Seattle University. As a young adult, Mary Jean became an airline stewardess and instantly fell in love with travel. She then shifted her focus to pursue a career in education and development, spending time with the Labor Relations Union at the University of Washington, and worked as a counseling secretary at Shorewood and Shorecrest high schools in the Shoreline School District. Mary Jean advocated for sex education and counseling in schools, highlighted by her formal presentation to the Shoreline school board. She had a deep empathetic quality with profound compassion for others. This remained a theme throughout her life, which ultimately led her advocacy for equality and social justice. Most notably, she was devoted to the NW AIDS Foundation and later became an Aids Walk coordinator and co-chair of the AIDS Awareness committee. It was an incredible honor for her to host the largest and most successful Aids walk in Seattle history. Mary Jean was also active in Seattle's Croatian community as a long-time member to the American Slavic Woman's Club, serving as secretary, board member, and scholarship committee chairperson. Her dedication will be remembered with gratitude.
Mary Jean was most proud of being a mother to her son Jeffrey. She raised Jeffrey with love and compassion. She enjoyed cooking with her son and he loved learning how to make Thanksgiving dinner and all her favorite dishes. Jeffrey is extremely grateful to have been raised by Mary Jean and is incredibly proud to be her son. Mary Jean also held a special relationship with Dominic and Biagio, her two loving nephews. From the moment they we're born, Mary Jean cared for them as if they were her own, showering them with love and kindness, while instilling the importance of family and tradition. Children just loved Mary Jean. She was the second "Teta" (aunt) to the virtually every child in the neighborhood. Everyone knew her special drawer in kitchen and contained her special treats. Watching them mature was a special delight for Mary Jean and she cherished her time visiting with them.
Later in life, Mary Jean continued with her love of travel. She learned about her Croatian ancestry first-hand by taking several trips to the Croatian coast and sailing through the Adriatic Sea. Favorite trips included visits to Montenegro, Albania, and Athens, Greece, and a month long trip driving through France while staying with relatives. Her favorite destination of all was Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she traveled her husband every February for over 20 years.
While she had several difficult health challenges, her husband Jim provided continuous loving care and compassion. She always remained upbeat and utterly refused to complain. She handled every difficult health challenge with sheer determination, bravery, and grace. It is with deep gratitude that the family recognizes her on-going support and care from Evergreen Hospice and Dr. Samuel Nadler at the PolyClinic. She was the very heart of our family - a wonderful wife, mother, aunt, friend and neighbor. Mary Jean will live on through all the people she touched, remaining in our hearts and memories forever. Due to COVID 19 a private family celebration will be held. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.
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Janice Williams (Shuttleworth)
You will be missed, your absence felt, You are Loved.... Rest in Peace MaryJean.
Janice Ruby Hansen (Takashima)
I will never forget MaryJean whose kindness and friendship helped me as a new student in the sixth grade at Greenwood Elementary. We were BFs that year and shared many adventures in sports after school and reading as well as exploring changing relationships with boys with group dating at the Ridgemont Theater. She was one of the few friends from the neighorhood that I shared school with until Lincoln graduation. I cherish countless memories of that one special year of MaryJean and our friendship. She taught me the importance of being welcoming to the new girl. I had hoped that after we reconnected at a Lincoln reunion that we would meet again to talk about books, but it didn't work out in this world. Perhaps later. I hope so.
Joyce Wiegand (Dodd)
To my Sugar Daddy buddy,
There are so many happy memories of our high school days, you and Carolyn my two best friends now gone. We walked home from school some days so we could buy a Sugar Daddy and savor it as we walked and talked. All the fun times playing ping pong in Linda McDonald's rec room with all the Blanchet boys; Denny Schimpf, Francis LeFavre (sp), Nick Whitney, Dick McNamara. Spending time at your duplex while your brother's practiced music for their band. And of course your Mom's constant message before we walked out the door "Mary Jean put on your lipstick". The football games which we never missed and of course helping each other with our broken hearts, me with Mike Bidwell and Nick, you with my idiot brother and Jack DeLong.
And the times spent on my front lawn chatting with Frank Scumacher and Jim Jakobowski, the dances at Green Lake, the Greenwood Library, the Grand Theatre and so much more. We shared our hopes and dreams like all teenage girls. You were the best of friends and always with a smile and a sparkle in your brown eyes.
You went off to be a Flight Attendant in Minnesota and I went to Pacific NW Bell for my first job. We spent lots of time on long distance phone calls, especially after your moron of a husband left you when you found out you were pregnant, horrible time but you made it through and had your beautiful baby boy. Then much happier times when you married Jim. The last time I saw you was a year after the 50th reunion when we met for a four hour dinner and then we talked when your brother John died. Both of us should have kept in touch so that is a lesson for me. That leaves your youngest brother Michael who must be feeling alone.
Rest in Peace my dear friend and may it be a comfort to your family that you were loved by many who valued your friendship. Love you dear and special lady.
Joan Leslie Dow (Bagby)
I remember Mary Jane with fond memories! She was one of the nicest gals in our class. She endured hardships with grace! Rest in peace. 😇❤️
Roger Peterson
July 29, 2020
My sincerest condolenceses to MaryJean's husband Jim, and their family. Over 50 years ago, MaryJean and I dated for awhile. She had an infant son, I seem to remember his name was Jeff, I could be wrong though, as it was 50 plus years ago. At the time I was recently out of the Army, and MaryJean had left Minneapolis, where she had been a Northwest Airlines flight attendant. We were both kind of restarting our lives in the Pacific Northwest. I had known MaryJean while at Lincoln, as she was a best friend of Joyce Weigand, whom I also dated during our time at LHS. At the time MJ and most of the rest of us were simply coming of age, with no particular goals other than perhaps attending university. When we were reacquainted she had become a goal oriented young mother who was very keen as to the responsibilities that motherhood placed on her. MJ was warm, caring, and in my estimation an all around wonderful person. Jim, congratulation on your years spent with MaryJean, and may you cherish your memories of the life, family, and years you spent with a great lady. MJ, you will be missed.
Best to all,
Roger Peterson