Lucille Evelyn Nicholson

Lucille Evelyn (Smith)(Full) Nicholson, “Lucy,” 90, of Paw Paw, Illinois, peacefully left this world and entered into eternal rest with her Savior, on October 14, 2019.

She was born on August 27, 1929 in Fairmont, MN to Earl & Clara (Koehler) Smith. She graduated from Fairmont High School in 1947. Her summers were spent visiting her Bulfer cousins in Sublette, IL, where she met Robert Full. They married on October 30, 1947 and divorced in 1970. On December 12, 1973, she married John A. Nicholson. They were married for 39 years before his death on September 26, 2013.

Lucy worked as a nurse’s aide at Mendota Community Hospital. She became a bookkeeper for Conkey’s in Mendota and Alexander Lumber in Compton, and a bank teller for the State Bank of Paw Paw. These prior jobs prepared her to keep the books for her husband’s construction business, Nicholson Construction & Excavating. Later in life, when most people would have retired, she became partners in real estate at LNG Realtors in Paw Paw, and then started Nicholson Real Estate. When her husband’s health required her to care for him at home, she retired. No matter what she did, she always gave 110%.

She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton, where she served in many areas over the years. She loved unconditionally and gave with her whole heart. Whether it was becoming “Sul” to John’s four kids, caring for her mother in their home, tenderly providing for Clare’s needs after her car accident and suffering with Alzheimer’s, or doting over John until his death, she did it with love and with a patience that could’ve only come from God. She was lovingly called Grandma Sul and Little Grandma. For the last three weeks of her life, she required 24-hour care. Those three weeks were a testimony of her love, as her children and grandchildren came together and took shifts caring for her. Her legacy is one of love.

Lucy is survived by two daughters, Linda (Chuck) Sellers of Paw Paw and Lisa (Nicholson) Hoebing of Malta; two sons, John (Sue) Nicholson and Jared (Dawn) Nicholson of Paw Paw; son-in-law, Wally DeLong; 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Susan Smith.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Clara Marie (Full) DeLong; seven children in infancy: Roberta Ann Full, Robert John Full, Martin Joe Full, David James Full, James Francis Full, Brian Michael Full, and Donna May Full; son, Jeffrey Nicholson; son-in-law, Jeffrey Hoebing; two brothers, Martin and Howard Smith; and two sisters, Kathryn Tow & Clarice Larimore.

A visitation will be held from 9:30-11:30 A.M. prior to a funeral service at 11:30 A.M. on Friday, October 18, 2019 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Compton, IL. Graveside service and interment at Wyoming Cemetery in Paw Paw, IL will immediately follow the funeral service. Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Brian DeLong, Jeffrey DeLong, Jared Nicholson, Chase Sellers, Heath Nicholson, Jacob Nicholson and Cole Nicholson.

Memorials may be directed to: Paw Paw Fire Department, Paw Paw Lions Club, Immanuel Lutheran Church, or OSF Hospice. Funeral arrangements have been provided by Torman Funeral Home of Paw Paw, IL. Please visit www.TormanFuneralHome.com to sign the online guest book.