Virginia “Ginny” Nickless passed away peacefully while surrounded by family on July 10, 2022, at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House after a brief illness.

The daughter of Cleveland and Alice Kennedy of Bucksport, Ginny attended public schools and graduated from Bucksport High School in 1946. She continued her education at the University of Maine in Orono graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in Sociology in 1950. While at UMO, Ginny was a member of the All-Maine Women Association honor society and president of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She also met her future husband Robert Nickless, a fellow 1950 graduate.

After graduation, Ginny taught at the Horace Mann School in Melrose, Mass. for one year.

In 1951, she and Bob married and moved to the west coast of the U.S. settling in West Covina, Calif. They spent nine years there and welcomed two children as Bob pursued his career in engineering and Ginny concentrated on their young family. Returning to their home state of Maine in 1960, Ginny and Bob had a third child and established themselves in Waterville. There they lived for the next 55 years, raising three children, becoming active in their church and volunteer work, and building a summer cottage on the shores of Gouldsboro Bay in Corea. The family spent many amazing summer days at the cottage having fun by the ocean. Bob’s hand-made dory, a sweet rowing boat, was used to lobster, fish, and putt around. Ginny always had blueberry pancakes and pies freshly made using the berries picked in front of the cottage!

An active member of the Pleasant Street United Methodist Church during all her years in Waterville, Ginny’s faith gave her great comfort. Ginny was a loving and supportive wife, an amazing mother and proud and doting “Grammy”. As her former college roommate told us when notified of mom’s passing, “your mother always put others needs in front of her own.”

Ginny was predeceased by her husband, Bob in 2014; and her brothers John and Cleve, and her sister, Kay.

She is survived by her son, Gary, and his wife Pamela, her daughter, Kristan and her husband, Peter, her daughter, Cindy and her husband Bob. She is also survived by grandsons Sean (Yanina), Michael (Ashlee) and Brian.

The family wants to thank past and present staff at the Scarborough Terrace Assisted Living Facility for attending to our mom with compassion and wonderful care for four and a half years. We understand how difficult the last three years have been for everyone in healthcare especially those in assisted living facilities, responsible for such an at-risk group.

We would also like to thank the staff at Gosnell Memorial Hospice whose skill and understanding eased our lives and comforted Mom during her final days.

A private interment will be held at a later date per Ginny’s request.

Arrangements are in the care of Lawry Brothers Funeral Home, 107 Main St., Fairfield where memories may be shared, and an online register book signed by visiting http://www.lawrybrothers.com.

Please consider a donation to two of our mom’s

favorite charities, the

Good Shepherd Food Bank or Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland.