Catherine Nicholson

Suffolk, Va. — Catherine Hislop Nicholson, 96, died peacefully Feb. 11, 2021, after a short illness in Suffolk, Va. She was born April 26, 1924, in New London to parents, Graham Shiels Hislop and Frances Peckham Hislop. Growing up, she attended local schools and graduated in 1941, from the former Williams Memorial Institute.

She was a member of the First Congregational Church in New London where she taught Sunday School classes.

During World War II, Catherine worked as a draftsman at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, where she met her future husband, L. Norman Nicholson. When he returned from serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps in England, they were married Sept. 27, 1947. They lived in Groton and joined the Groton Congregational Church, where Catherine again taught Sunday School. During the church’s annual Christmas bazaar, she painted and sold hundreds of personalized ornaments for more than 35 years. While raising three children, she went back to work in 1967, as the secretary of the former Eastern Point Elementary School in Groton. When she retired after 26 years, the PTA honored her with a Japanese maple planted on the front lawn.

Catherine enjoyed sailing, and the family took numerous sailing trips to ports along Long Island Sound. She and her husband were members of the Shennecossett Yacht Club in Groton, where she decorated the club for social activities for many years. She also enjoyed arts and crafts, was an avid tennis player and fan and a member of the Goshen Bowling League. She loved going out to dinner and to the theater, watching old movies, especially those starring Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power, and spending time with family. She was a lifelong member of the Osprey Beach Club in New London, where she spent summers as a teenager and throughout her life.

She is predeceased by her husband of 59 years and her sister, Elizabeth Kellander.

She is survived by her sister Jean H. Peabody of Waterford; daughters, Dale Nicholson (Linda Besse) of Amesbury, Mass., and Diane Maury (Earl) of Norwich; a son, David Nicholson (Frank Kirchner) of Norfolk, Va.; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Graham Funeral Home, Chesapeake, Va., will be caring for arrangements. Please visit www.grahamfuneralhome.com to leave a condolence to the family.