Rita M. Nichols

Rita M. Nichols (nee Conzemius) entered eternal life on August 5, 2026, in her ninety-sixth year. Born in Hastings, Minnesota on August 29, 1930, Rita was the daughter of George and Marguerite Conzemius. Rita grew up on the family farm in rural Cannon Falls, Minnesota. She was a graduate of Hastings High School. Throughout her youth, along with her parents, brothers, and sisters, Rita was very active in the Minnesota 4-H club where she won state championships. Rita earned her college degree from the University of Minnesota and was a third-grade elementary school teacher at Jefferson Elementary School in Rochester, Minnesota for many years. It was in Minnesota that Rita met the love of her life and best friend Francis C. Nichols, Jr., M.D. They were married on July 6, 1957. Rita and Francis lived many years first in Wood-Ridge, N.J., followed by Oradell, N.J. They successfully raised eight children. While most of Rita’s life was spent in New Jersey, her Minnesota “roots” were always evident in her everyday life with her devotion to the Minnesota Gophers, Vikings, and Twins and green thumb in the yard. She was quick to remind her family that it was always a good corn crop in the Midwest if the corn was “knee high by the Fourth of July.” Her children fondly remember annual summer trips to the family farm in Minnesota which continues as an active fifth generation family farm today. Rita was a decades-long parishioner of the Church of the Assumption in Emerson, N.J. Rita had a lifelong passion for sports both watching and playing. Basketball, golf, skiing, and softball were favorite pastimes. Rita and Francis cherished time spent with children and grandchildren at their vacation home on the Jersey shore. While Rita’s greatest treasures were her husband, children, and grandchildren, the reality is that she was the true treasure in everyone’s life with her perpetual smile, inner strength, and infinite calm and selfless demeanor. Predeceased by her parents, husband Francis C. Nichols, and, four siblings, Rosemary Sarri, Jane Donkers, John Conzemius, and George Conzemius, Rita is survived by her devoted children Francis C. (Judy) Nichols, III, George (Dorothy) Nichols, Rita (Kevin) Danylchuk, Margaret (Mark) Degand, Harold Nichols, Brian (Marilyn) Nichols, Craig (Robin) Nichols, and Linda (Christopher) Marino. She also leaves her 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the Volk Leber Funeral Home, 268 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell, N.J. on Friday August 21st from 6-8 P.M. A funeral Mass celebrating her life will be Saturday August 22nd at 9:30 A.M., Church of the Assumption, 29 Jefferson Ave., Emerson, N.J. 07630. Interment to follow at Maryrest Cemetery, 770 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah, N.J. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rita’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association would be appreciated.

Rita M. Nichols

August 29, 1930 - August 5, 2026