After an extended illness, Helen Florence Nichols, 79, formerly of Fairhaven, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 14, 2018, at Cortland Place Nursing Home, Greenville, RI, with her closest niece, and caregiver, Deborah Canning, by her side. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald G. Nichols.

Born in Fairhaven, she was a daughter of the late Eugene Chmiel and the late Teofilia (Witkowicz) Chmiel.  Helen was employed as a nursing assistant with Dr. Francis P. Grenn (late of New Bedford) for 30 years, then as a receptionist at an ophthalmologist's office in Wareham, and as a traveling home health aide, for a number of years.

Helen, affectionately known as "Cioci," loved children, and children loved Helen. She enjoyed getting on the floor, playing games and making children laugh. Helen's arrival at your home signaled fun was about to start. She was feisty, spoke her mind, and had no trouble telling you like it was.

While she enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and occasionally dressing in wild but matching colors, Helen had a true passion for cooking. She was especially known for the birthday golumpkis and personalized birthday cakes she would often make for, and even sometimes ship to, her nieces and nephews. Her gusto, humor, and zest for life's simple pleasures, such as enjoying a good meal or having a laugh, will be sorely missed.

Predeceased by her brother, Edward Chmiel, late of Colorado Springs, CO, she is survived by: her devoted and loving sister, Jean Martin (husband Jan) of Venice, Florida; loving nieces & nephews (Suzanne, Douglas, Nancy, Deborah, Todd, and James) and grandnieces/nephews; and several friends (including Irene, Kathi, and godson, Maxwell). Helen's two dogs, Sandy and Reggie, also predeceased her.

Following her cremation, a memorial funeral mass was celebrated on Wednesday, April 25 ^th , in St. Joseph's Parish Church, Fairhaven followed by the burial of her cremains in the family lot at Sacred Heart Cemetery in New Bedford.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider making a donation in Helen's memory toward research to help fight dementia:  Alzheimer's Association, Massachusetts / New Hampshire Chapter, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452; 800.272.3900; www.alz.org/MANH