School 17

Porta J. Nickles

February 15, 1916 ~ April 11, 2023 (age 107) 107 Years Old
Read more about the life story of Porta and share your memory.    

Obituary

     Porta J. Nickles, age 107, passed away on April 11, 2023, in Great Falls, Virginia. She was born on February 15, 1916, in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, to Greek immigrants Evangelos and Stella Lemberakis, who hailed from Sparta, Greece. Porta was fluent in Greek, both written and spoken.

    On November 7, 1937, Porta married John Nickles in Middletown, New York. She worked as a teaching assistant for over 30 years at Chorley Elementary School in Middletown, where she was a beloved member of the faculty. When Porta retired at the age of 87, she was honored as the oldest teacher’s aide in New York State. Porta was also a teaching assistant at the local Greek school.

    An accomplished cook, Porta enjoyed preparing traditional Greek dishes and pastries, and was known for her famous spanakopita and apple pie. Porta was also known for her love of dancing, particularly to the song "YMCA," and was always seen with a smile on her face. She enjoyed nothing more than watching the television show "Dancing with the Stars" and would often share her opinions on the performances with her friends and family.

    Porta had a passion for traveling and loved meeting people. Wherever she travelled, be it Rome or London or Vancouver, or even Honolulu, her smile and positive attitude brightened the day of everyone she crossed paths with.

    She was an active member of the community and belonged to the Greek Ladies Philoptochos, the Order of the Eastern Star, and the Middletown Business and Professional Women’s Club. She also took classes at Orange County Community College through their Enore program. During her later years, Porta made many friends and was a treasured member of the Brightview Assisted Living community in Great Falls, Virginia.

    Porta was preceded in death by her husband John Nickles, her parents, Evangelos and Stella Lemberakis, her siblings John Lemberakis, Nellie Tozzi, and Nicholas Lemberakis, and son-in-law Robert Bankel. She is survived by her children Peter (Maria) Nickles, Joan (Nico Cilenti) Nickles, and Evan Nickles; her grandchildren John (Shelley) Nickles, Cassandra (Anthony) Rinaldi, Philip (Laura) Nickles, Charisse Mihalakos, and Aletta (Rob) Martin; nine great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.

    A wake will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, 26 Grove St., Middletown, New York, followed by a funeral service at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, 2250 Goshen Turnpike, Middletown, New York. The burial will be in Wallkill Cemetery.

    In lieu of flowers, donations in Porta's memory can be made to the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church of Middletown, New York.

    Porta J. Nickles will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Her unwavering positivity and wonderful loving spirit were truly unique, and her memory will live on in the hearts of all those she touched with her kindness and love.

    Arrangements have been entrusted to Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, Middletown, NY. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Porta J. Nickles, please visit our floral store.


Services

Visitation
Thursday
April 20, 2023

11:00 AM to 12:45 PM
Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Inc. Funeral Home
26 Grove Street
Middletown, NY 10940

Funeral Service
Thursday
April 20, 2023

1:30 PM
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church
2250 Goshen Turnpike
Middletown, NY 10941

Interment following funeral service
Thursday
April 20, 2023

Wallkill Cemetery
160 Midway Road
Middletown, NY 10940

Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event
Ongoing
Online Event
profile

In Loving Memory Of

Porta Nickles

February 15, 1916-April 11, 2023




Look inside to read what others
have shared

Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book.   


Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event
Ongoing
Online Event

profile

In Loving Memory Of

Porta Nickles

February 15, 1916-April 11, 2023




Look inside to read what others have shared


Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in the book.   


SHARE OBITUARY

© 2023 Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Inc. Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility