Vera S. "Buffy" Nichols

OGDENSBURG- Funeral services for Vera S. “Buffy” Nichols, 97, of Ogdensburg will be held on Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Ogdensburg with Rev. Tom Nichols officiating.  Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, Eel Weir.    Calling hours will be held from 1-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2017.  

Mrs. Nichols died on Wednesday May 24, 2017 at her home, surrounded by her family and under the care of Hospice.

Arrangements are under the direction of LaRue & Pitcher Funeral Home.

Vera S. Nichols was born on February 18, 1920 in Lisbon, New York.  She was the daughter of the late Homer and Edythe (Wilson) Salton.  She attended local schools.  On April 12, 1944, she married Benjamin V. Nichols at the First United Methodist Church of Ogdensburg.  Together they owned and operated the Nichols Funeral Home on New York Avenue, now LaRue & Pitcher Funeral Home. Upon the death of her husband Ben, Jack Robinson became the manager and she continued to operate the Nichols Funeral Home until her retirement and sale of the business in 1996.  Vera loved her camp on the St. Lawrence River and spent every summer there.  She was lovingly referred to as “The Biscuit Lady” at the church Chicken and Biscuit dinners, she was also known as “Buffy” by her adoring grandchildren and great grandchildren.   Vera was a member of the Order of the Eastern Stars and the Rebekahs.  One of Vera’s daily routines was to read the Ogdensburg Journal from cover to cover and she would retain all the news and information inside.

Vera is survived by her daughters; Jan Tyler and her husband Thomas of Liverpool, NY and Nancy Rudiger and Jim McNally of Ogdensburg.  She is survived by her sister Leila Murray of Ramondville and her grandchildren; Jeffrey Ward and his wife Angela of Lisbon, James Ward and his wife Molly of Lisbon, John Ward of Ogdensburg, Scott Tyler of Belleview, WA, Bobbie Jo Gagnon of Ogdensburg, Heidi Provencher and her husband Gary of Sacremento, CA, Melissa Light and her husband Kenny of Baldwinsville, Megan Christopher and her husband Dave of Cicero and William Gagnon and his wife Airaca of Ogdensburg.   She is also survived by many great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was predeceased by her husband Benjamin V.  Nichols, her daughter Sue Ellen Gagnon, her great granddaughter Morgan Gagnon, her siblings; Stanley, Wilson, Joy and Franklin Salton and Anna Kirkey.

Donations in Vera’s memory may be made to Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley 6805 NYS 11 Potsdam, NY 13676 or the First United Methodist Church of Ogdensburg 626 Caroline Street Ogdensburg, NY 13669.

Online condolences may be made at www.LaRuePitcher.com.