Mary Lee Nicholl was born in Derry, New Hampshire on January 9th, 1945. She died peacefully, at the age of 80 in her home in Spring Hill, Fla on the early morning of April 29th 2025.
Mary grew up in Staten Island, New York with her parents Frederick Lee and Catherine Mary Nicholl, along with her little sister Jo-Ann (deceased) and her brother Lee (deceased).
As a young woman, she took an interest in hot rods and raced stock cars and actually realized on the track she was pregnant with her first child.
In the span of her life she was an EMT with Eastover first aid in toms River, New Jersey & She taught EMT classes. She loved the sea & she was a certified scuba diver. There are fond memories riding dirt bikes through the pine barrens of New Jersey with friends & her daughter.
She is survived by The love of her life, Richard Castano. They spent almost two decades together taking adventures from Arizona to Alaska and visiting hundreds of yard sales and truly enjoyed refurbishing and recycling treasures as they both loved a good hunt.
Her favorite pastimes in retirement were reading her books on her beautiful porch watching for birds and bunnies and armadillos that would visit her sunflower bird bath.
She had a green thumb and she loved all creatures.
As a professional career, she was the owner- proprietor for 30 years of Mary’s clip joint in Beachwood New Jersey where she won many blue ribbons for showing dogs and was a master groomer. For a second career, she won many awards for master designs in floral arranging in toms River, New Jersey managing Red Barn florist.
She was a huge proponent for homeless veterans and her and Richard loved St Timothy’s Church of tarpon springs where they could be found at Thanksgiving with a car full of turkeys for the homeless.
Her children, eldest and only daughter, Catherine, Dawn and her husband Brian Monaghan of Apache junction, Arizona,
Her son Eddie and his long-time partner Joseph D’Ambrosi and their kitty cat Jerry….
Son, Richie Dalton of Jackson, New Jersey and her grand daughter Melinda Eve, her husband John Rivera and their three children, Jaiden, Johnny, Jr and Lulu of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey.
His second daughter, her granddaughter Kerri Lee and her husband Harrison Toney of Richmond, Virginia
and his third daughter- her granddaughter, Zoe 🐦 Mcdermott of Ocean township, New Jersey.
And her youngest son Fred Dalton of Port St. Lucie, Florida and his three children; Krystle Leigh Lynch of Lincolnton, North Carolina and her three Great grandchildren, Julia, Madison, and DeAndre.
His second child-Grandson Frederick Lee Dalton Jr of Naples, Florida and his third child& her grandson
Austin Benjamin of barnegat, New Jersey.
From sunrise to sunset you could find our mom enjoying the outside and her Eagles Football team & NASCAR . She was a creative spirit and a woman of Faith and her family was her pride and joy ⚓
Catherine Dawn
May 8, 2025, 2:26 am
“To love & be loved is the greatest joy on Earth”
forever in ours hearts💝
Nichole Rouse
May 9, 2025, 5:44 pm
There is always a gift in a transition and the gift is that I got to meet you my new friend and share many stories over the 9 days. I am so sorry for the loss of your mommy but now she is your heavenly angel.
Sandra & family.
May 9, 2025, 5:55 pm
Our deepest condolences. May she rest in peace. She’s now an angel besides our Lord.🙏
Bonnie Dunbar
May 9, 2025, 6:55 pm
My dearest Dawn, Brian, Freddie, and Family,
Our love is with you! Your mom walked this earth as a beautiful woman inside and out and now flies among you as a beautiful angel. Her earthly presents will be missed but she will always hear you and be there when you speak.
Though we are not with you, please know that we are here and you are in our hearts❣️
Bob and Bonnie
Joyce & John
May 9, 2025, 10:51 pm
MY Dearest Dawn and family,
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of your beloved mother. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. Our live and thoughts are with you and your family. May her memory be a source of comfort and peace.
Please know you are in our prayers and hearts.
Joyce and John
Joyce
May 9, 2025, 10:52 pm
MY Dearest Dawn and family,
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of your beloved mother. Please accept our heartfelt condolences. Our live and thoughts are with you and your family. May her memory be a source of comfort and peace.
Please know you are in our prayers and hearts.
Joyce and John
Julie and David Miller
May 12, 2025, 1:08 am
Dawn,
May God bless and comfort you and Brian, your brothers, and other family members as you cope with the loss of your beautiful mother. We are holding you in our prayers and sending you love during this difficult time.
Evelyn Malave
May 13, 2025, 10:13 pm
May you rest in eternal peace and your family continue to remember all the good memories.
Ann & Tom Castano
May 21, 2025, 4:24 pm
Prayers for the entire family, your Mom Mary was such a lovely lady. We always enjoyed our visits with her and Richard when we were in Florida for the winter. May she rest in peace, cherish all your memories or your amazing Mother. 🙏♥️ Ann & Tom ( Richard’s brother)
Ronnie & Archie Campbell
May 29, 2025, 2:19 pm
Sensei and I send you our deepest condolences. We love you!