Virginia E. Nicholas

Virginia Efthoxia Nicholas died on July 4, 2014, at NewAldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls. She was born September 12, 1932, in Cedar Falls, to Nick and Clara Savage Ilax. As a teenager, she worked as an usher at the Regent Theater in Cedar Falls. She married James Nicholas, Sr. in 1950. She was a homemaker for much of her life: taking care of her children, cooking, sewing, and gardening. After all the children were in school, she worked as a teacher’s aide at Cedar Heights School for many years. Virginia was a creative person. She made beautiful paintings and drawings, designed dollhouse furniture, embroidered, and painted wall murals at Cedar Heights School, St. Paul Lutheran Church, and St. John Lutheran Church. She joined the quilting group at St. Paul and helped make many quilts. She loved nature and obtained National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat certification for each home in which she lived. She especially loved birds, and had a special fondness for quails. She also grew many beautiful flowers and provided butterfly habitat. In her later years, she got much joy from her grandchildren and her terrier, Cassie. Survived by: her husband, James Sr; four daughters, Linnea (Dan) Ulrich of Cedar Falls; Anna Nicholas of Shell Rock, Jean (Kent) Melick of Cedar Falls; and Mary (Greg) Love of New Hartford; three sons, Jim (Karen) Nicholas Jr of Albuquerque, NM, Ted (Kim) Nicholas and Andy (Cathy) Nicholas both of Denver, IA; six grandchildren: Jenny, Matt, Ethan, Victoria, Lauren and Nicole; one great grandchild, Kalena; two sisters, Bertha (Quentin) Henry and Leona Williams, both of Cedar Falls; two sisters-in-law, Carolyn Ilax of Cedar Falls and Dorothy Nicholas of Waterloo; and a brother-in-law, Fred (DelRita) Nicholas. Preceded in death by: two sisters, Marie Ravn and Elaine Tessmer; a brother, Jim Ilax; nephews and nieces and beloved terrier, Cassie. Services: 10:00 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls, with burial in Mount Vernon Township Cemetery, rural Cedar Falls. Visitation 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Richardson Funeral Service and also for one hour prior to services at the church. Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105).

Virginia E. Nicholas

September 12, 1932 - July 4, 2014