Edna May Nicholas (Skoglund), 94, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2022, surrounded by family, after a heroic battle with cancer. She was just six days short of her 95th birthday. She was the beloved wife of Ayoub Charles Nicholas, 98, with whom she had shared 76 years of marriage.
Edna, known to many as “Mimi”, was born on May 8, 1927 in Astoria, New York. She was a product of the Great Depression and the Greatest Generation. She was an unshakable optimist and she was a dynamo from the beginning. She led an exemplary life where she put others ahead of herself, and had unconditional love for her family. She had a tireless work ethic. Her positivity was contagious and unparalleled. She was and is a shining star, and her legacy will live on indefinitely.
In a chance meeting between their mothers, Edna was just one and in her baby carriage, and Abe five the first time they met. They met again at a baseball game in their teenage years, where Abe saw Edna and thought, "I would like to meet that girl." He said the next time he met her, he knew it was fate. Edna went on to graduate from Park Ridge High School (New Jersey) and was a cheerleader. After World War II, she and Abe married on July 29, 1945. They had three children: Judy, Stephen, and Jeffrey.
They enjoyed travel to New York City to see the Big Bands of the Era. In New Jersey she was involved in the Dutch Reformed Church and was a bookkeeper for her brother Al’s Construction company, Hiller and Skoglund. Abe and Edna moved to Warren, Connecticut in December of 1968 and purchased the Warren Store and Package Store and Center. After the sale of the Warren store in the mid 1970s she employed her legendary bookkeeping skills and worked for the late celebrated author Philip Roth and Grammy winning Musician Paul Winter. She settled in to work for Civil Precision Engineering in the 1980s. When her son Jeff opened his Torrington law firm in 1989, she offered temporary help with initial bookkeeping and tax assistance to get things going. She ended up staying on as a valuable adviser and bookkeeper until 2021, 32 total years. She also helped her Grandson Steve with his Landscaping business, Nicholas and Son.
She was known as “Mimi” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She adored each and every one of them and was always “bragging” about how wonderful they were and all of their accomplishments. She helped to positively influence her grandchildren and was not only their grandmother, but truly their best friend. She was a constant at their games, track meets, and cross-country events and helped inspire a group of All Americans and State Champions. Her grandchildren remember her as resilient, beautiful inside and out, with an unwavering optimism, joy, and spirit. She had tremendous faith, was a devoted Christian, and was truly a blessing and gift to this world. She will be incredibly missed.
She leaves behind her husband of nearly 77 years: Ayoub Charles Nicholas of Warren, and her children: Judy Byrne and Ken Byrne of Collinsville, Steve Nicholas and Banjie Nicholas of Tenants Harbor (ME), and Jeffrey Nicholas and Yuliya Nicholas of Bethlehem; Grandchildren: Scott Byrne, Brian Byrne, Jenny (Byrne) Guerraz, Stephen Nicholas, Madeline Nicholas, Jacqueline Nicholas, Bridget Nicholas, Diana Nicholas, Jeffrey “Eddie” Nicholas, Nikita Nicholas, Alex Nicholas and Veronika Nicholas. Great grandchildren Wilder Byrne, Willow Byrne, Maisy Byrne, Gavin Guerraz, Noelle “Elle” Guerraz, Jacob Nicholas, Ava Salamone, and Nicarlos “Nico” Mateo Nicholas. In addition, dear friend Eileen Nicholas.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am at the Morris Congregational Church followed by a celebration of life: 12:30-4:00 at the Morris Senior Center. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Morris, CT. PO Box 47, Bantam CT 06790-0047.
