Maryanna Joan Nicholl

Maryanna Joan Nicholl 1932 2019 Loving Anchor, Mainstay, and Matriarch Our beloved " Gram", Maryanna Joan Nicholl, left us on March 7th. Gram was taken by her Lord Jesus Christ, undoubtedly to be reunited with "Pop" and other souls she loved and lost along the way. Maryanna was born in Philadelphia in 1932 and raised by her father, Francis Haggerty, an adoring Irishman, and her mother, Stella Mankowski an indomitably feisty but hardworking woman of Polish stock. An only child, sweet Maryanna was the apple of Pop's smilin' Irish eyes, a man she considered a saint and loved immeasurably. She would later become her mother's rock, never leaving her side throughout it all. Maryanna combined the best of Pop's smile and Mom's feistiness. She had a trademark harshly skeptical yet twinkling eye that all at once said "You can't fool me for a minute and I love you anyway". Maryanna began her education at the Polish Catholic School, St. Laurentius, courtesy of her father, who wished to see Maryanna raised in her mother's Polish tradition. She graduated from Hallahan High School at 17, shortly after her father's tragic and untimely passing, a loss that affected her deeply. Never letting tragedy lead to inaction, Maryanna went to work a day after graduating to support her widowed mother. Maryanna worked secretarial positions at Moore College of Arts, the Curtis Building and St. Laurentius rectory over the course of a career showcasing exceptional spelling capabilities, artistic talent, and an unyielding insistence on doing things the right way. At 23, Maryanna met the love of her life, a dashing gentleman, Leo Nicholl, at a dance. As he approached Maryanna and a friend, she was certain he was after her friend. Instead, he asked Maryanna for a dance, sparks flew, and so began a love that lasted over half a century. Leo, being the hopeless romantic, proposed by tossing a ring at Maryanna and her mother in their Cedar Street home, then walked away before she could say "YES"! They married in 1955. A honeymoon road trip to Canada followed, ripe with car breakdowns and loving moments. Their love produced four children, Virginia, Christine, Leo , and Timothy. Later in life Gram spent her years showering her family with love. There were many walks along Wildwood's boardwalk , banana splits down the Shore, peanut butter and jelly sandwich picnics in Lancaster, car rides and conversations in "ole Betsy", Strawbridge's shopping trips, and the ringing of the Christmas bells to mark Santa's arrival. Maryanna was accomplished in ways far more impactful on the lives of her loved ones than any degree or job title could measure. She was an unsung hero who devoted her entire life to loving and caring for those around her, from her mother who continued to live with her and her husband until she was 90, to her grandkids Rebecca and Giuseppe for whom she always had breakfast ready before school, and to her great grandkids for whom right up until the end - she patiently waited outside for each to get off the school bus. Maryanna is survived by her children Virginia, Christine, Leo , and Timothy, twelve grandkids and 3 great grandkids. Gram was a living testament to her Catholic faith and its spirit of sacrifice for the sake of others. Our unselfish hero has now passed, but she will remain in the hearts of those whose lives she blessed. Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing and funeral on Thursday, March 21, 2019 beginning at 10am at St. Anne's Church, 2328 East Lehigh Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19125. Funeral Mass will begin at 11am. Interment Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA 18940.