Carole Lynne Nicolay longtime VC resident, 77




 

 

Carole Lynne Nicolay, a long-time resident of the cities of Palm Desert and Valley Center, died Tuesday, September 6, 2016, after a long-term battle with cancer. She was 77.

Born on December 23, 1938 in Chicago, Illinois Mrs. Nicolay moved with her parents to Southern California in her early teens. Her mother, Alice Burke DeCero, had worked for General Mills in Chicago and her father Henry DeCero, worked for a steel mill in South Chicago prior to a long-term role with Kaiser Steel in Fontana, CA, where he eventually retired. Her brother Henry died at the age of 24.

Mrs. Nicolay attended Fontana High School and moved on to the University of California at Santa Barbara where she spent a year prior to returning to the San Bernardino Community and beginning a long-term profession as an executive secretary. While at Santa Barbara, she met her first husband William “Red” Ashby and they had three children together. Settled in San Bernardino County with her family, she was so good at her job that she eventually went on to serve in ESI (Executive Secretaries International) where she served in all top-level positions. She began working for her second husband Ted Nicolay at Western Vendors (later Servomation Corporation) in San Bernardino in 1963. They later married in March of 1975.

Early in her marriage to Ted, the family moved to an avocado ranch in Valley Center where she became very involved locally and statewide in the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a national philanthropic organization aimed at the advancement of women. As a couple, they were extremely involved socially in the local community, including activities with the local Rotary Club, square dancing and more. During that time they established a lifetime network of friends that they remained close to even after they permanently moved to Palm Desert in 1998.

Mrs. Nicolay was a consummate hostess and a fantastic cook, loved sewing (especially machine embroidery later in life), but family was her priority. She was an incredible wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by her loving husband, Ted, of 41 years, her children from her first marriage — son Bill (wife Jennifer); son Jim (wife Donna); and daughter Kathleen (husband Reginald) and son Jeff from her second marriage (wife Jana). Her stepson Reg also survives her.

During her final years, she and Ted lived with their son Jeff and his wife Jana in Palm Desert and their children Tyler (9) and Finley (4). She is also survived by seven other grandchildren – Will, Brian and Jennifer (Bill’s children); Stephen, Katelyn, Andrew and Annie and deceased granddaughter Lauren (Jim’s children) and step-grandson Reggie. In addition, she had seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Monday, September 19 at the Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary in Loma Linda (3520 E. Washington Street, Colton, CA 92324; 909-825-3024). A viewing will be held from 8-10 am, followed by a chapel memorial from 10-11:15 a.m., then gravesite service at Montecito and lunch/reception nearby at the University of Redlands Casa Loma Room. Directions will be provided at the service. Donations may be made in Carole Nicolay’s memory to the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter LN, via the website at: donations.peointernational.org/peo-donation-pce


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