Nanette Elise Nicolay Obituary

Nanette Elise Nicolay attended Sun Prairie High School in Sun Prairie, WI. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Nanette Elise Nicolay.

Graduation Year	Class of 1973
Date of Passing	Oct 09, 2011
About	Delavan - Nanette Elyse Nicolay entered eternal life on Sunday, October 9, 2011 at the age of 56. Nanette was born on April 28, 1955 in Bloomington, IL and was the daughter of the late Maurice Joseph and Genevieve Marie Nicolay. In 1958 Nanette and her family moved to Sun Prairie, WI where she grew up to be a beautiful, talented and vibrant young woman. Nanette attended Sacred Hearts Catholic School and was a 1973 graduate of Sun Prairie Senior High School. She graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1977 earning a B.S. degree in Education with an advanced area of study in Foreign Language/Spanish. She went on to receive a M.S. degree from UW-Madison several years later. Ms. Nicolay taught Spanish at Phoenix Middle School in Delavan, WI and her passion for educational excellence was evident throughout her 32-year career in the Delavan-Darien School District. Her commitment to her profession and to her many students was unfailing as she shared her knowledge and love of the Spanish language and culture with those she taught. In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. Nicolay also conducted educational travel excursions throughout Spain during the summer months that enabled her to enrich her students’ cultural knowledge, experience and language fluency. Her “classroom abroad” generated energy, enthusiasm and learning for all who participated in the experience. She possessed a warm, generous and caring nature that she shared unconditionally. Nanette felt enormous empathy for all living creatures and throughout her lifetime she gave freely of her time, talent and treasure to those in need. Her charitable works and contributions to others was a natural way of life for her. Nanette had a long list of favorites – movies, music, travelling and cocker spaniels to name a few. She especially treasured her loving family and her dogs. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining and will long be remembered for her vivacious and engaging personality. Nanette was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Joe and Jenny Nicolay, and her sister, Michelle J. Nicolay. Survivors include her two sisters, Mary (Paul) Rattmann and Meg Nicolay Taylor; her nephews and nieces, Bryon Rattmann; Ian (Paula) McIntyre; Jon (Heather) Rattmann; Alison McIntyre; Jessica (Nathan) Pottebaum; and Gennifer Taylor. She was a great aunt to Gavyn and Lauryn McIntyre and Claire Rattmann. She is further survived by relatives and many friends. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. PETER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5001 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI on Friday, October 14, 2011 at 11 a.m. with Father Roger Nilles officiating. Burial will follow at Sacred Hearts Cemetery, Sun Prairie, WI. Visitation will be held at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 2418 N. Sherman Ave., Madison, WI on Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and then again at church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Memorials may be made to the Doris Day Animal Foundation (www.ddaf.org) or The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals at www.aspca.org/donate or the charity of your choice. “In thee my soul shall own combined the sister and the friend.” - Catherine Killigrew