Nicole was born in Bordeaux, France on June 6, 1933 to Jean and Francoise "Josette" (D'Astros) Laborde. She had one brother and two sisters. She was the third of the four children. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father who had been educated at the Sorbonne in Paris operated the family ceramics factory in the town of Gradignan until the war. She was educated in the catholic school tradition and was a pretty girl, full of life, and full of giggles. She loved to read and act out Shakespeare with her cousin Annie. After graduating from secondary school, she moved to London where she worked as an au pair. She spent time in Paris and then returned to Bordeaux where she taught at the Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base.
Nicole married in 1956 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1957. She worked and attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and in 1960 she became a U.S. citizen. In 1961 she was blessed with her first daughter. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Detroit where she would remain, and her family would grow to include another daughter and a son. It was here that she met her life-long friend, Marge. She often said that Marge was her sanity, her sister, her best friend.
Nicole was a homemaker for many years before going back to school in the 1970s. She trained as a dental assistant and worked in the dental field until her retirement in the 1990s. After retirement, Nicole volunteered at Providence hospital where she made many good friends. She was also an active member at St. Ives Catholic Church for many years. She loved hosting family gatherings and playing silly games. She loved to travel. She enjoyed drawing, painting, sewing, knitting, and doing crossword puzzles. She loved history and art. She did not enjoy cooking and was happy to tell you that. She was very physically active. She loved to swim and go on long walks. She loved flowers, summer days, the ocean, oysters, muscles, snowball fights, speaking french with her grandchildren, back to school shopping, chocolate covered cherries, Monet, Chopin, and chocolate chip cookies.
She is survived by her children: Beverly (Michael) Eberle, Catherine (Dan) Garrison, Steven (Denise) Howard. Grandchildren: Michelle (Duane) Zitta, Matthew Eberle, Preston (Chloe) Garrison, Troy (Yessmy) Garrison, Jacob (Meghan) Howard, Nicholas Howard, Andrew Howard. Great Grandchildren: Addisyn, Ayden, Graciella, Harper, Billie, Isaac. Sister: Christine (Jean) Derouault, brother-in-law: Jean-Claude Solleau, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Michel Laborde, sister Rosemarie Solleau, nephew Pierre Solleau, and husband Gordon Howard.
A private family service will be held at Pixley Funeral Home Rochester Hills, Michigan and interment will be at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations would be made in memory of Nicole Laborde to AccentCare Hospice 27355 John R Road Madison Heights, MI 48071.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May her soul, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
