Marie Willig Nicolich

Marie Willig Nicolich passed away on the morning of Thursday, September 18, 2025, at the age of 86. Born on January 17, 1939, in New Orleans, LA, Marie was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many. She is survived by her sisters, Lois Wright, Gaynel White (Lee), and three children, Gwennith Byars (Bobby), Jannith Gros (Larry), and Anthony Nicolich IV (Shari). Marie was affectionately known as "Rie Rie" to her eight grandchildren (her “babies”), Jessica Chevis (Tate), Brian Nicolich (Morgan), Steven Chevis (Sara), Amy Samples, Christopher Nicolich (Cameille), Eric Gros (Min Yao), Hayley Rymer (Zachary), and David Gros. In her later years, she was overjoyed by the arrival of her eight great-grandchildren - Elliot, Dominic, Harris, Wyatt, Millie Jane, Evelyn, Griffin, and Sophie. She is predeceased by her father, James Naylor Willig, her mother Marie Carmel Cannatella Willig, and her cherished husband, Anthony Nicolich III.

Marie grew up a few blocks off the Mississippi River on First Street in the Irish Channel. When Marie was in high school, her family became one of the first to move into their Metairie neighborhood. After she and Anthony married, they made Metairie their home for nearly 70 years.

Marie’s soft and quiet voice belied her fiery and determined spirit. Together with her husband, Marie owned and operated a successful security and fire alarm company serving Greater New Orleans and the Northshore. She actively and passionately engaged in various legislative projects and advocacy that related to the alarm business. Marie exemplified community service: she was a longtime dedicated member of the Louisiana Burglar and Fire Alarm Association, the Rotary Club of Metairie, the Red Hat Ladies, and Mary's Children.

But Marie’s zeal extended well beyond her professional life. When her kids were teenagers, she and Anthony resolved to teach them the value of hard work by opening an ice cream parlor and employing them there. Unfortunately, the parlor’s sweet success was short-lived – the Nicolich children’s generosity with free ice cream for their friends proved more than the business could bear.

Among the many qualities her family will always treasure were Marie’s love of shopping and gift-giving, her passion for New Orleans cuisine, and her joy in exploring new restaurants – though she remained loyal to longtime favorites such as Vincent’s, Mr. B’s, Venezia, and Mandina’s. And Marie’s loved ones will especially miss the food she lovingly made for them. Marie had a knack for recreating recipes at home based on dishes she loved from various places and enjoyed cooking and baking with her kids and grandkids. She and Anthony loved nothing more than to entertain their family and friends, filling their home with the smells of good food and the sounds of lively conversation and laughter. Her family will remain forever grateful for how wholeheartedly she cared for them and for the love she so generously gave.

Throughout her life, Marie’s Catholic faith remained constant. Marie loved to revisit her home parish of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in the Irish Channel, where she and Anthony both attended school. She found great joy and comfort in visiting the shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

A visitation will be held at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA, on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, followed by a Funeral Mass at 1:00 pm. Immediately followed by an internment at Metairie Cemetery, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans, LA.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her honor to the The National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos or the St. Joseph Hospice Foundation.