Obituary of Genevieve Jeanne Nicholls

Genevieve (Jeanne) Nicholls

Genevieve L. Nicholls, always called Jeanne by her family and many friends, died in the early hours of May 1, 2018 at St. Joseph Healthcare and Rehab Center, formerly St. Vincent’s, in Cedar Grove, NJ.  She was 78.

The wake for Jeanne will be held at Hugh Moriarty Funeral Home, 76 Park Street, Montclair, NJ on Sunday, May 6, 2018 from 2 to 5 PM.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, 30 N Fullerton Ave., Montclair, NJ on Monday, May 7 at 10 AM.  Burial will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Montclair, NJ.

Jeanne was born on February 28, 1940 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Montclair, the youngest daughter of Charles and Genevieve (Reinhardt) Nicholls.  Jeanne lived in Montclair for the first 66 years of her wonderful life.  She graduated from Immaculate Conception elementary and high schools.  Jeanne entered the Sisters of Charity in 1957 but had to leave that same year due to illness.

For a short time, Jeanne worked as a physical education teacher and girls’ basketball coach at Immaculate Conception High School.  Then for one year, Jeanne taught physical education at the Academy of Saint Elizabeth’s in Convent Station. 

For 37 years, Jeanne worked in the banking industry.  Her banking career began at the Montclair Trust Company.  In 1961 she worked as a Proof Clerk Machine Operator at Fidelity Union Trust Company in Newark.  In 1978 her career took her to Fidelity Union Bank’s Operations Center in North Brunswick where she advanced from Supervisor to Back Office First Level Officer to Operations Manager.  In 1986 Jeanne was promoted to Assistant Vice President, a title she held until she took an early retirement package in 1998.  For 20 years Jeanne worked in the same building in North Brunswick, while the bank’s name changed from Fidelity Union Bank, to First Fidelity Bank, then to First Union National Bank.

Jeanne loved ‘old time’ country western music.  She was a great fan of Tammy Wynette, attending almost all of Tammy’s concerts on the east coast.  Jeanne, with her dear friend, Vera Hutchinson, were co-presidents of the Tammy Wynette International Fan Club.

As an active member of Immaculate Conception parish, Jeanne served for many years on Immaculate’s RCIA team, instructing and mentoring individuals exploring becoming Catholic.  Jeanne was also a Eucharistic Minister and a member of Immaculate’s Parish Council.

In the mid-1990s Jeanne reconnected with the Sisters of Charity, who were her teachers for 12 years at Immaculate Conception, at a reunion at Maris Stella in Harvey Cedars on Long Beach Island. 

In 1997 Jeanne became a Seton Associate, a lay affiliate of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, which is a group of women and men who seek deeper spirituality and engage in ministry by living the charism of charity.  In 2004 Jeanne made her lifetime commitment to being a Seton Associate.  Jeanne was the facilitator for the Morristown Evening Group of Seton Associates.

In 1998 Jeanne went to work for the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth.  She worked in the Pelican Shop in Xavier Center, a retreat and conference center on the campus of the College of Saint Elizabeth in Covent Station, NJ until the Center closed in 2011.  As manager of the Pelican Shop, a religious book and gift shop, Jeanne loved visiting with and ministering to her customers, especially the retreatants, Sisters of Charity, and Seton Associates.

At the time of her death, Jeanne continued using her banker’s skills volunteering at treasurer for the Harding Seniors and for Sophia, her small faith community, in Andover.

Jeanne is predeceased by her parents, Genevieve and Charles Nicholls, and two of her sisters, Mary Nicholls Fitzpatrick and Eleanor Nicholls Lanfrank.

Jeanne is survived by two sisters, Margaret Nicholls Vassallo and Lillian Schmidt DeMarco, and her soul friend, Marie Hogarty. Many nieces, nephews, great-nephew, great-nieces, and great-grand nephews also mourn the loss of their Aunt Jeanne.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Jeanne to the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth via https://supportscnj.org/donate/ or to your favorite charity.