Mary Lynn Nicklas, 74, of 227 Wilson Road, St. Marys, passed away Sunday, January 22, 2017, at her home, after a lengthy illness.
She was born August 4, 1942, in St. Marys, daughter of the late Charles E. and Almeda Hanes Scull. She was a lifelong resident of the area and was a graduate of Central Catholic High School, Class of 1960.
On December 27, 1960, in the Sacred Heart Church, she married David A. Nicklas, who survives. Lynn is also survived by two daughters, Michele Kubiak and her husband John of Atlanta, GA and Lynn Ann Stepaniak and her husband Michael of Dayton, OH; five sons, Robert J. Nicklas and his companion Beth Gahn, Allen M. Nicklas and his wife Emily, Charles J. Nicklas and his wife Margy, Daniel D. Nicklas and his wife Theresa, and Benedict S. Nicklas and his companion Amanda Detsch, all of St. Marys; 24 grandchildren, Blaise Nicklas, Lindsey Nicklas, Nicholas Kubiak, Hannah Kubiak, Rachel Kubiak, Alyssa Tettis, Lucas Nicklas, Dylan Nicklas, Garrett Nicklas, Elizabeth Nicklas, Kathryn Nicklas, Samuel Nicklas, Austin Nicklas, Sean Nicklas, Sara Nicklas, Christopher Stepaniak, Matthew Stepaniak, Bryan Stepaniak, Joel Stepaniak, Lillian Stepaniak, John Stepaniak, David Stepaniak, Kyle Nicklas, and Maddison Nicklas; and two great grandchildren, Abel Tettis and Braylee Nicklas. Also surviving are two sisters, Fern Ann Tuberson and her husband William of St. Marys and Elizabeth Rae Woydick and her husband Mark of Johnstown; and by a brother, George J. Scull and his wife Karen of Kersey.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kaylee Lynn Nicklas; and by a brother, Charles Gordon Scull.
Lynn was a member of the St. Mary’s Church, was a Benedictine Oblate and Pastoral Musician by profession, serving as music director and organist of the St. Mary’s Church. She served on the Liturgy Board for over thirty years and was also the founder of the St. Mary’s Church Bell Choir. Lynn served as NPM Leader for the St. Marys Deanery and National Pastoral Musicians Chapter-Diocese of Erie. For many years she was part of the Diocesan Team for Advocacy for the Disabled.
Lynn also taught piano and organ lessons for many years. She was a member of the American College of Musician’s Piano Teacher’s Guild, and was inducted into the Piano Teacher’s Guild Hall of Fame. Lynn served on the State Special Music Committee for many years, providing music for Memorial Services and Conference events when requested. She also served the National Society on the House Committee for Congress Music from 1997-2007, providing all music for the final Continental Congress of Mrs. Charles Kyle Kemper and the greater part of Congress music during Love Administration.
She joined the Penn-Elk Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1982, serving through the years as Vice Regent, Secretary, Registrar and Chapter Regent 1986-1989 and 2004-2013. Lynn served the DAR State Society as North Central District Director from 1988-1992 and again from 1995-1998, and as Editor of the State Bulletin from 1992-1995. She was elected 37th State Regent of PSSDAR at the 101st State Conference and was elected Honorary Regent at the 105th State Conference in 2001. She was appointed National Chairman NSDAR Valley Forge Bell Tower and Carillon 50th Anniversary 2000-2001. She believed in the DAR motto, “God, Home, Country”.
Lynn was a member of the Daughters of the American Colonists, the Elk County Historical Society, and the St. Marys Historical Society. She was instrumental in the acquisition of the Genealogy Room at the St. Marys Public Library. She was also a member of the St. Marys Sportsmen’s Club and was a life member of the National Rifle Association of benefactor status.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at 10:00 AM, with the Rev. Alfred Patterson, OSB, Pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 24, 2017, from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the St. Mary’s Church, 325 Church Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.