Jane S. Nicholson, 87, of Lewes, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 29, 2026.
Born Jan. 4, 1939, in Trenton, N.J., Jane was the daughter of the late Jean Smith Skillman and Theodore F. Skillman. She was raised in Bloomfield, N.J., where she graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1957 and later attended Bethany College in West Virginia.
Jane began her career working for Bloomfield Savings Bank and Bell Telephone. After marrying her husband, Robert “Bob” Nicholson, the couple moved to Riva, Md., where they raised their three children. After several moves during Bob’s career, the family eventually settled in Lewes, where Bob managed the Doxsee Clam plant on Pilottown Road.
Jane later bought a women’s apparel store in the Midway Shopping Center and named it the Cranberry Scoop. After 10 years, she sold the shop and worked for Boulevard Auto in Georgetown. However, the apparel business is where Jane belonged. She purchased Cullum’s Apparel Store in Georgetown, operating it for 17 years before deciding to fully retire.
Even in retirement, Jane remained deeply involved in her community. She served as treasurer of Lewes Citizens Coalition and was active with Read Aloud Delaware. At Westminster Presbyterian Church, she was treasurer of Circle I, sang in the church choir and served as a financial secretary. Jane was also a member of Lewes Fire Department Auxiliary. Her favorite pastimes included gardening, reading and cooking.
Jane was preceded in death by her identical twin sister, Trudy; her sister, Dorean Olson; her parents, Jean and Ted Skillman; and her in-laws, Dorothy and Samuel Nicholson.
She is survived by her loving husband of more than 67 years, Robert H. Nicholson; her children, Amanda Wagner (husband Carl), Marjorie Turkett (husband Glenn) and Robert S. Nicholson; her grandchildren, Joshua Nicholson, Julia Nicholson, Craig “CJ” Stephens, Robert Stephens (wife Madeleine) and Linsey Labson (husband Daniel); and her great-grandchildren, Talan, Joelle and Orion Stephens, and Ansel Labson.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, April 8, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Hwy., Lewes, where family and friends may visit from 10 to 11 a.m. Interment will be private. A Celebration of Life will follow at Irish Eyes in Lewes.
Anyone unable to attend the services may view the livestream at: parsellfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/permalink/12049850/LTWebcast.
In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Lewes Fire Department, lewesfire.com/donations.
Visit Jane's Life memorial at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
