- Date Of Birth: February 2, 1919
- Date Of Death: January 21, 2007
- State: Rhode Island
Irene T. Nicholas, 87, of 16 Kathleen Drive, Westerly, passed away peacefully in her home on January 21, 2007. She was the wife of the late Captain James Nicholas.
Born in New London, CT on February 2, 1919, she was the daughter of the late John and Viola (Sitaras) Traggis. Irene grew up on Lincoln Ave. in Pawcatuck and attended the Stonington School System with the exception of a two year stay in the village of Plomari on the island of Mytiline, Greece. Upon returning to the states she graduated from StoningtonHigh School in 1937. She continued her education in Athens, Greece at the OrlindaChildsPierceCollege and in 1965 received a B.S. in Education from Willimantic State College.
She married James Nicholas in 1942. Irene was a longtime substitute teacher in the Stonington Schools and in 1965 was hired as a full time elementary school teacher (grades 1-3) at Pine Point School in Stonington. She is fondly remembered and loved by many of her former students. Upon her retirement from teaching she and her husband Jim assumed the operation of the family business, St. Clair Annex in Watch Hill, RI.
An avid cook and gardener, Irene was an active member of the YMCA Garden Club, a former member of The Westerly Hospital Auxiliary, and The Watch Hill Yacht Club. She greatly enjoyed sharing her culinary delights and recipes and crafted many keepsakes, school projects, with and for her family and friends. Of her many travels abroad she fondly recalled her many trips to Greece with family and friends, and in 1987 she and Jim realized a lifetime dream of a trip around the world.
She is survived by her brother Demetrious and his wife Alice of Fredricksburg, Texas, son John, his wife Brenda of Doss, Texas and son George and his wife Joann of Pawcatuck, her beloved grandchildren as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she is predeceased by her beloved son William and grandson Rio.
