Bernadette M. Nichols, 82 of Lusby, MD died December 30, 2011 at St. Mary's Nursing Center. Born March 25, 1929 in Queens, NY, she was the daughter of the late William McGrory and Susan (Carracash) McGrory.

Bernadette raised her family in Wantagh, NY and worked as a public school librarian. After the passing of her husband, Daniel, whom she married on January 8, 1949, she moved to Riverhead, NY and became active with Birthright. There she helped young girls to deal with an unplanned pregnancy providing emotional support and helping with housing, maternity and baby needs. Bernadette was a devout Catholic and attended church almost every day.

Bernadette is survived by her children, William Nichols of Lusby, MD, Daniel J. Nichols, Jr. of Lindenhurst, NY and Dolores Sarnelle of Longwood, FL, 6 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and a brother, John McGrory of West Hempstead, NY.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings William McGrory, Francis McGrory and Julia Belcastro.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the McLaughlin-Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Isidore Roman Catholic Church, Riverhead, NY. Interment will follow in Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, NY.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.