IRENE NICHOLS

IRENE NICHOLS March 12, 1944 ~ December 22, 2023 It is with extreme sadness that the family of Irene Margaret Nichols (nee Teel) announce her passing. Irene was born in Medicine Hat on March 12, 1944, and passed away on December 22, 2023, at the age of 79 years with her family at her side. She was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Wanda (Senwich) Teel; brothers, William Teel and Frank Teel and her sister, Patricia (Howard) Gould. Irene will be missed by her loving husband, Gerald Nichols; daughter, Catherine (Alan) Tschritter; son, David (Candice) Nichols; and son, Robert (Janis) Nichols all of Medicine Hat. Irene also had several loving grandchildren including her grandsons, Michael Tschritter and Adam Nichols; granddaughters, Kennedy Nichols (Brett Voeller); and Ella Nichols; and one great-grandson, Nash Voeller. She also has one surviving sister-in-law, Joyce Teel and several nieces and nephews.
Irene completed nursing school in 1963, and worked at many different locations, moving with Gerald’s early road construction days. Irene and Gerald met in Claresholm, AB, where she was working in the municipal hospital. As Irene referred to it, they went “steady” for three months before getting engaged on September 7, 1963, and were married that same year on November 23rd. In August of 1964, Cathy arrived on the scene in Calgary, followed by Dave in 1966 in Medicine Hat. In the early days of their marriage, there were lots of moves until they finally settled in Medicine Hat in the house “on the Hill” after having Bob in 1970. This is where most of her children’s memories reside. Her grandchildren fondly referred to her as “Grammy” or “Tee Tee” and have so many memories of going to their house for turkey dinner, bologna, wiener wraps and tomato soup cake (her specialty)! Irene was highly involved in all her grandchildren’s lives and took pleasure in helping with the grandkids in any way she could. Irene and Gerald recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on November 23, 2023. They both loved to go camping in their earlier retirement years, travelled across Canada in a motorhome twice, took many vacations, and later in life took great pleasure in their country drives around the Medicine Hat surrounding area. Thank you to all the staff at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital who made Irene so comfortable and at peace during her final journey. Also, a special thank you to Pastor Jamie McDonald from Hillcrest Church for his special prayers and visits to see Irene during this hospital stay and several others in recent years. The family will be celebrating Irene’s life in a private celebration early in the new year.
Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed, still very dear. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting our website at www.cooksouthland.com). Donations in memory of Irene can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 119 – 114 Street N.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1Z6 or a charity of one’s choice. Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel Crematorium & Reception Facility 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455 www.cooksouthland.com “Locally owned & directed”