Rosemary NickolaAfter a brief but tenacious fight with cancer, my mother, Rosemary Nickola, passed away on April 27th. She was 89 years old. She is survived by me (her son, Hugh), my wife (Francesca), my two boys (Luca and Teo), and my mom's Dachshund, Delilah. For the past six years, my mother lived near us in Battery Park City, but prior to that she lived in Englewood Cliffs for more than five decades. She married my father, Hugh, in 1951. It may sound like a cliche, but he was most definitely the love of her life. My father's sudden passing nine years ago was a shock to us all, but it was particularly devastating for my mom. The two of them were inseparable. Although Mom never fully came to terms with the loss of her husband, she did eventually come to an uneasy truce. My mother worked for AT&T and later New Jersey Bell for much of her life. In fact, she met my father while working for AT&T soon after WWII. She was born on August 31, 1927 to Marion and Franklin Kranert and she grew up in Washington Heights. I remember going to the family dentist in Washington Heights when I was young. Unfortunately, he wasn't very good. Although I could say much more about my mom, maybe it is best left for her memorial service. We are holding it at the Hunt-Stellato Funeral Home, 1601 Palisade Avenue, Fort Lee, New Jersey from 12pm to 2pm on Saturday, May 20th. Anyone who knew her is welcome to join us as we wish my mother farewell. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in her name to the North Shore Animal League of America, 25 Davis Avenue, Port Washington NY 11050. My mother was a huge dog lover.