Michael Anthony Nicholas
1969-2019
Michael Anthony Nicholas of Fredericton passed away
peacefully on August 9, 2019 at the Saint John Regional Hospital with
his loving parents at his side, after a courageous three year journey
with brain cancer. Born in Fredericton on December 23, 1969, he was
the beloved son of Graydon and Beth (Hatchette) Nicholas. In addition
to his parents, Mike leaves to mourn his loving brother, Brian
Nicholas and his wife Joanne Porter as well as his nephew and godson,
Cato Michael Nicholas and his niece and goddaughter, Allison Heather
Nicholas, all of Kingman, Arizona. He is also survived by several
aunts and uncles and many cousins. He was predeceased by his
grandparents, Andrew Nicholas, Senior and Pauline Nicholas and Richard
and Rose Hatchette as well as his uncles, Allison Nicholas, Dennis
Nicholas, Rick Hatchette, Andrew Nicholas and his aunt, Elaine
Paine.
Mike was a graduate of Fredericton High School and St. Thomas
University where he was active in the Native Student Council and the
Archaeological Society. As a proud member of the Wolastoqiyik, he was
passionate about his life’s work in his chosen field of
archaeology. At the time of his illness, he was employed as Senior
Archaeologist with the Province of New Brunswick and held the position
of Ministerial Archaeological Inspector. He worked on many
archaeological projects in New Brunswick including The Enclosure, the
Augustine Mound, Metepenagiag, Jemseg, Fort La Tour, and at Bristol
and Sisson Brook; important sites, where he acted as Field Supervisor.
Mike was Co-Director of the excavations at Pennfield Ridge in
southwestern NB, which is currently the oldest archaeological site in
the Maritimes and dates back over 13,000 years to the ancestors of the
Wabanaki Confederacy. During his career, Mike authored or co-authored
more than twenty publications on topics of archaeology and was
respected by his colleagues. He loved to share his knowledge about the
fascinating history of this land and to tell stories about the
adventures he experienced in the course of his work.
Mike enjoyed sports and played hockey, baseball, soccer and
football in his younger years. He was a member of a championship
football team at FHS and was on a provincial soccer team. He played
the acoustic guitar and the electric guitar in many jam sessions in
earlier years. He enjoyed all genres of music and was an encyclopedia
of knowledge about the music industry from the 1950’s to
present day.
Mike was a faithful parishioner of St. Mary Magdalene Parish
(St. Dunstan’s Church) and found much peace and joy by
attending daily Mass as often as he could during the last year of his
life. He had a heart for justice, identified with those in need and
lent a helping hand whenever he could. Mike was a proud uncle and
enjoyed visits by Cato and Allison and trips around the Maritimes
during the past three summers when he could no longer travel to
Arizona.
Mike’s family would like to express our thanks and
say Bravo to Dr. Nicholas Keschtkar, Dr. Savita Karol, Dr. Shahram
Abootalebi, Dr. Anthony Reiman, Dr. Md Mohiuddin, Dr. George Koylvas,
Dr. Andre Leroux and the staff of 5A South, 4B South and the Oncology
Department at the Saint John Regional Hospital for their
excellent and compassionate care of Mike. Special thanks to the
Catholic Women’s League, the Knights of Columbus, members of
Christian Life Community, the Tekakwitha Conference, family, friends
and clergy for their prayers and support for Mike and our family
during the past three years. We are very grateful to Fathers Doug
McNeill, Aaron Knox, Rodrigo Tabilona, Michael LeBlanc, Don Breen,
Monsignor Brian Sheenan and Sister Mary Beth McCurdy for their
pastoral visits to Mike while he was in the hospital, and to the lay
ministers who brought him Holy Communion.
Arrangements are under the compassionate care of
McAdam’s Funeral Home, 160 York Street, Fredericton with
visitation on Thursday, August 15, 2019 from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm.
A Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of Mike’s life
will be held on Friday, August 16, 2019 at 12:05 pm at St.
Dunstan’s Church, 120 Regent Street, Fredericton followed by
a reception in the Monsignor Boyd Family Centre. Cremation has taken
place. Interment will be at The Hermitage Cemetery, 499 Woodstock
Road, Fredericton following the reception. Donations in
Mike’s memory can be made to the Fredericton Community
Kitchen, the Fredericton Emergency Shelters, the Fredericton Food Bank
or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
www.mcadamsfh.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Michael Anthony Nicholas 19692019..
Death notice for the town of: Fredericton, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick