TULSA, OK - Mary Patricia (Linahan) Nickel, 96, passed late Tuesday, Nov 26, 2024, at Clarehouse Hospice following a 22-day valiant fight.

Fondly known to friends and extended family as "Pat", she was born May 26, 1928 in South Amboy, NJ, the 4th of 13 children to beloved Irish parents John Bartholomew Linahan and Margaret Maria (Ryan) Linahan.

With 5 young children in tow, the Linahan family moved from New Jersey to Philadelphia. There, Pat spent a happy childhood devoted to her parents and siblings which grew to a family of 15! She fondly recited all of her siblings' names in chronological birth order in record time: Jack, Peg, Bob, Pat, Joan, Phyllis, Tom, Ruth, Ann, Bill, Dick, Fran, and Michael. She spoke in great detail about each and every sibling her entire life. And she relished in the joy of helping to rear all of them - honing her nurturing skills in advance of her greatest role as a mother.

At about age 15, Pat met a boy named Charles Nickel at a parochial school dance in Philadelphia. She fell for him immediately and loved his fun outlook on life and strong sense of humor. He became the love of her life and was embraced wholeheartedly by the Linahan family. After some time in the Navy and graduating college, Charles proposed and the two married on Oct 14, 1950 at St Laurence's Church in Highland Park, PA. Charles shared Pat's devout Catholic faith and they lovingly raised 5 adoring children over the course of their 37-year marriage until Charles' untimely and sudden death in 1987 at only 59 years of age.

From early on, Pat had a deep and devout faith that she lived out every day of her 96 blessed years. One would recognize her devoted faith upon first meeting her. Nothing meant more to her than faith and family. She formed long-lasting relationships in many Tulsa circles and communities including St Bernard's Church, St Benedict's Church, St Mary's Church, Holy Family Cathedral, Bishop Kelley High School, and Tulsa Right to Life.

Pat enjoyed a brief career at DuPont in Philadelphia in the late 40's before she was married. And after her favorite career of raising her 5 children, she returned to work when her youngest child finally began school. At that time, Pat took a part-time job at Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa which turned into a full-time treasured job of nearly 20 years, and she became an integral part of the front office at the school. Although she retired in the late 80s, she is fondly remembered by student alumni, faculty, and staff even today.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, 11 of her 12 siblings, and her husband Charles Nickel…who remained her first and only love. She is survived by one sister Fran (Fardone) Linahan, as well as 5 beloved children:

daughter Maripat Perram (and husband Wayne); son Charlie Nickel (and wife Karen Huber Nickel); son John Nickel; daughter Margie Bode (and husband John Bode); and daughter Gina Godfrey (and husband John Godfrey). She is also survived by 12 adoring grandchildren and their spouses, along with 13 great grandchildren, and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

A rosary will be said in her honor at 10:30am followed by a funeral mass at 11:00am on Monday, Dec 9, 2024, at St Bernard's Catholic Church, 4001 East 101st Street, Tulsa, with Father Jack Gleason officiating. Interment and reception will follow immediately at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Pat Nickel's name to the "Bishop Kelley Building Fund", 3905 South Hudson Ave, Tulsa, OK, 74135.