Anna Nicolich, who died peacefully on June 20, 2018, was born in Hells Kitchen, New York, on May 31, 1925. Both of her parents, Rudolph and Anna Nicolich, had immigrated to the United States from the island of Unije, located in the Adriatic Sea off the coast of what is now Croatia. In 1928, Anna’s brother, John, was born. Soon thereafter, Anna’s mother died. Anna’s father then married Antonia, also from Unije, who became stepmother to Anna and her brother. Antonia subsequently had four sons: Rudolf, Charles, Edward, and Norbert. The family lived in West New York, New Jersey. As a very young girl, Anna often had responsibility for the care of her five brothers.
Towards the end of World War II, at the wedding of a mutual relative, Anna first met John M. Nicolich – a decorated war veteran – whom she married in 1949. Anna and her husband lived in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, and later moved to Astoria, Queens. Their first child, son John, was born in 1952; son Eric was born in 1955; and daughter Anne Marie was born in 1959.
Sadly, Anna’s husband died of cancer in 1962, around the same time that daughter Anne Marie was diagnosed as having profound developmental disabilities. Anna brought up her children alone, and cared devotedly for Anne Marie at home until Anne Marie died in 2010.
On a very limited income, Anna managed to bring up three children. Throughout her life, Anna maintained close ties with an extended, loving, and very supportive family. Anna attended church regularly and found solace in her faith. Anna also was good-hearted and generous. Although of limited means, Anna provided financial assistance to family, friends, and neighbors in need, and also provided assistance and lodging to newly arrived immigrants from Yugoslavia.
Anna is survived by her sons, John and Eric, granddaughters Leah and Sophie, and daughters-in-law Alice and Regina. Anna is also survived by her brothers John, Rudolph, and Charles, and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
If you wish to make a contribution in Anna’s memory, we suggest either (1) the Bayside Adult Service Center of The Shield Institute, 39-02 214th Place, Bayside, New York 11361 (http://www.shield.org/), where Anna’s daughter Anne Marie attended a day program for many years, or (2) Opengate, Inc., 357 Main Street, Armonk, New York 10504 (https://opengateinc.org/), which is a not-for-profit organization that provides programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.
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