Virginia Ellen Nickel, 88, of Raleigh, NC died on June 7, 2013. Virginia was born on July 31, 1924 in Chicago, Illinois to John and Janet Cronin. She was predeceased by her parents, husband Paul, identical twin Mercedes Miller and brother George Rempe. Virginia graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a degree in Psychology and married Paul A. Nickel on September 13, 1947 in New York. They moved from coast to coast (New York, Providence, San Francisco, Los Angeles) while Paul pursued his PhD in mathematics and then settled in Bozeman, Montana where Paul taught at Montana State during the school year, moving the family to Seattle for the summers while he worked at Boeing. In 1965 the family moved to Raleigh, where they instructed students at both ends of the spectrum - Virginia at St. Timothy's and Ravenscroft teaching Kindergarten and Paul at NC State University.
During her life Virginia accumulated a few nicknames. Her husband called her Ina, her friends would call her Ginny, but mostly people called her Muzzy, including her caregivers at both Sunrise and Woodland Terrace. It was a name she happily answered to, and there was no one quite like Muzzy!
Virginia is survived by her five children, Ginger Smiley of Raleigh, Paul Nickel (Tara) of Rochester, NY, Bill Nickel (Jane) of Fairfax, VA, Glen Nickel (Dianna) of Cary, and Lori Harrelson (Chuck) of Raleigh. She was also blessed with grandchildren Kerry Rousseau (Sean), Jennie Salinas (TJ), Caitlin Robar (Andrew), Erin Nickel, Elena Nickel, William Nickel, Sean Nickel, Carissa Nickel, Wesley Nickel, Lindsay Harrelson, Ryann Harrelson, Kristina Nickel, and Megan Nickel. She also has eight great grandchildren.
Our mom found much happiness in the time she spent playing bridge, going on walks at Shelly Lake, visiting with her children, and caring for her grandchildren. She was also an avid reader and Atlanta Braves fan! As a teenager she attended a Boston Braves spring training camp and met Casey Stengel, who was then their manager. When the Braves finally landed in Atlanta, Muzzy was a big fan, having met Casey as an impressionable teenager. She enjoyed watching the Braves on TBS.
We will dearly miss Muzzy’s sweet nature, her endearing smile and are truly blessed to have had such a wonderful Mom. We would like to thank Sunrise and Woodland Terrace Senior Living Centers for their wonderful care. The memorial service will be held at a later date. In memory of Muzzy, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association PO Box 96011 Washington DC 20090-6011.
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