Funeral services for Bernice M. Nicholas, 82, of Mentor, will be 11 a.m. Thursday May 8, 2008 at Brunner Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor.  Mrs. Nicholas died Saturday, May 3, 2008, at Heartland of Mentor.  She was born March 5, 1926, in Ashtabula, she had lived there before moving to Mentor 59 years ago.

She was a member of Mentor United Methodist Church and Past President of Mentor Cardinals Women's Club. She loved cooking, canning, gambling excursions, reading and writing poems.  Mrs. Nicholas was a retired LPN from Richmond Heights Hospital and Wickliffe Country Place, retiring in 1991.

Survivors are her daughter, Dessa Nicholas-Horvath of Mentor; son, Dale Nicholas of Mentor; three grandchildren, Laura, Shannon and Darren (fiancee, Darcy Klima) Horvath; brother, Louis (Ann) Mongenel of California; related by love, not blood, Colleen Campbell, Glenna Alland and Paul Ruez; and dog, Laila.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Olney Nicholas; sons, Dean E. Nicholas and Daryl O. Nicholas; father, Fred Matela; mother, Eva Kuhn; and brother, Merlon Mongenel.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mentor Cemetery.

The family suggests contributions to the American Lung Association of Ohio, 6100 Rockside Woods Blvd., Suite 260, Independence, OH 44131-2340, or your favorite charity.