Wanda Nicholas

Wanda Sue Nicholas went home to the Lord on January 1, 2026 after 80 years of life impacting family and community. She was many things to many people beginning on December 26, 1945 in Carey, Ohio as the daughter of an orphan raised by the Franciscan nuns, John Maenle, who later became the Janitor of St. Joseph Parish and school in Fremont. Her Mom, Frances Maenle, was the lunch lady at Hayes Elementary School. Along with 7 siblings her humble childhood grounded her in a life of faith, service and a drive to persevere.

She graduated from St. Joseph HS, in 1963 where her classmates knew her as a Jitterbug dance champ and Nellie Forbush, the fun-loving lead with a beautiful voice in the musical South Pacific. She married Douglas Higgins that same year and began her most impactful role of raising and developing people as Mother to James (Dawn) Higgins, Shantel Laird and Cora (Jim) Higgins-Arquette. She was a surrogate Mom to their circle of friends known for a great meal and a home open to all. Her 7 grandchildren: Scott Higgins, Dustin Higgins, Destany Hovatter, John Connor Minich, Frances Riley Hammer, Whitney Lockwood and T.J. Laird, along with 13 great-grandchildren enjoyed her as everything from playmate to life coach.

Her career blossomed in Retail Management where companies like The Fremont Athletic Supply, Lane Drug Company and Big Lots would know her as the master merchandiser, but her staff knew her as mentor, and friend. She later married James Nicholas and became a beloved wife, and travel adventurer for their 42 years together. With him her love of sports grew as she learned to play golf, making two hole in one shots. She was Queen Pin to her bowling league and Base Hit Baby on her softball team. Her community knew her as youth volunteer, choir member and "Nightingale" for those needing nursing hands, a warm meal, shoveled sidewalks and even a place to stay.

In the end, the most revered are called "Saint" for tending to God's people and serving so freely he's able to perform miracles through them. We lived many of those and so for us, she'll forever be remembered as Wanda Nicholas, Patron Saint of Families.

It was Wanda's wish to have a private burial at St. Joseph Cemetery, Fremont, OH.