Nickerson Funeral Home - Chatham

06/10/2024

Mark Raymond Zibrat
1953 - 2024

On June 7, 2024 Mark Raymond Zibrat passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Born at Cape Cod Hospital on January 13, 1953, Mark exemplified his love of his Cape Cod heritage. He was the son of Edward G. Zibrat and Leona B. (Fierst) Zibrat. He was a graduate of Chatham High School class of 1971, Cape Cod Community College, 1973 and Vermont Technical College 1975. He began working in the building community with his father and brothers. He started his first position at Coastal Engineering, and then he continued to elevate his love of historical detail and design through his own residential design firm, Mark R. Zibrat Designs and later Zibrat & McCarthy Designs LLP. He was known to have saved many marriages with his kind thoughtful ability to design homes people love. His intuitive artistic ability combined with a builder’s vision fit together to produce beautiful craft homes and restorations. He was a recipient of the Chatham Historical Society Preservation Award several times and received the Creative Use of Concrete Award, as well as many accolades from his valued customers.

Survived by his high school sweetheart and wife Robin Ellen (Dubis) Zibrat, their daughters Jennifer Ellen (Zibrat) Haffner, son in law Hellmut, Jacqueline Macy Zibrat-Long, son in law Jonathan. His beloved grandchildren Isabelle Macy, Ryder Raymond, Benjamin Mark, and Christian David. Brothers Edward G. Zibrat (Lois), Wayne T. Zibrat (Lucille) and Keith F. Zibrat (pre-deceased). His brother-in-law Eugene W. Dubis (Pamela), many cousins and several nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews who luckily called him Uncle. And Millie, his beloved dog.

The most important part of his life was family. Together at the family beach houses on North Beach, Chocorua, N.H. cottage, parties, holidays with the “clan”, vacations, skiing and cruises that included his family and friends. Boating and fishing…chasing the elusive bass, clamming, and making stuffed quahogs, his specialty. Smoking fish and sous chef in the kitchen. His love of music started at a noticeably early age with his father hauling him and his equipment all around the cape with “The Times of Creation Band.” He played the bass, but his favorite was his acoustical guitars. Often playing for his kids and grandchildren. He could bring tears to his daughter’s eyes playing “House at Pooh Corner” and joy to his grandchildren doing the “Wheels on the Bus” and love to his wife with “Six String Music.” His basement band played on Thursday nights, who several times took their show on the road. He recently played at his cousin’s wedding in Kennebunkport. And let us not forget his poker night as he was the “commissioner.”

Involved in his community, he served on the Chatham Water and Sewer Board, and the Chatham Planning Board. He was a trustee at the First Congregational Church, a member of St. Martin Masonic Lodge, Chatham Yacht Club, Monomoy Yacht Club, and Eastward Ho! Country Club.

The celebration of his life will be at the First Congregational Church in Chatham, at 10:00 A.M., June 12, 2024, followed by a burial and Masonic service at the family plot.

The family would like to thank Dr. Lawrence MCauliffe, Brigham and Women’s Heart Failure Clinic, Brigham and Woman’s team of doctors, nurses, palliative care, hospice and the many caring teams that took great care of Mark and his family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Chatham Fire and Rescue Association for their devotion and kind consideration to Mark or the charity of your choosing. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com

05/25/2024

On this Memorial Day, let us pause and reflect on the courage and sacrifice of those who served our nation. 🇺🇸

To the brave souls who stood tall in the face of adversity, who marched through the storms of history, and who left behind an indelible mark on our hearts: Thank You.

07/28/2023

ATTENTION📣📣SCAM ALERT❗️❗️

Dear Friends, It has been brought to our attention of a known scam currently targeting some of the beloved families we service here on Cape Cod and beyond. These individuals are calling/texting unsuspecting families and impersonating an employee of the funeral home demanding deposits be made to an unknown account or the funeral services will be canceled.
Please know this is a SCAM! These calls and messages are NOT coming from anyone here at Nickerson Funeral Home. We urge anyone who may receive a call from someone who identifies themselves as an employee of Nickerson Funeral Home with these demands to NOT disclose any information to them and to call the funeral home right away. We also encourage to call your local police station and file a report at

Protect your community by reporting fraud, scams, and bad business practices

06/30/2022

Richard “Dick” Hunter of Chatham Ma passed away suddenly at his home on June 26, 2022. He
was 70 years old. He is the son of the late Donald and Maxine Hunter and predeceased by his brothers Donald and Stephen. Born in Leominster Ma on September 5, 1951, Dick graduated from Cushing Academy in 1970. After a brief stint at Nichols College, Dick made his way to the Cape and never left. Chatham is where he meets the love of his life Susan Nowak. Together they called Chatham home and were married for 44 years, had two sons and multiple four-legged friends that were always by his side. For more information, please visit https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/chatham-ma/richard-hunter-10806146

05/26/2022

Obituary for George Whitman Goodspeed, Jr.

South Chatham – George Whitman Goodspeed, Jr. (83) passed on peacefully in residence at Liberty Commons on May 19, 2022.

Junior, as referred to by his family, was the son of the late George W. Goodspeed, Sr. and Dorothy E. (Kendrick) Goodspeed. He was born at the family home on Seaview Street in Chatham on December 16, 1938. George happily considered himself a life-long resident of Chatham. He is survived by his beloved wife, Linda May (Bearse) Goodspeed of South Chatham, and their son, George W. Goodspeed III of Crested Butte, Colorado. George is also survived by his niece, Donna Lumpkin of Chatham, cousins Roxane Carnes of Chatham, Karen Goggins of Harwich, and Andrew F. Eldridge of Yarmouthport and Florida. He had several nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved and was proud of.

George is predeceased by his sister, Gladys Lumpkin, his brother, Benjamin K. Goodspeed, and his nephew, Benjamin C. Goodspeed, all of whom called Chatham home.

George graduated from Chatham High School, class of 1956, and completed a degree at Worcester Junior College. He served with the United States Coast Guard Reserves, notable serving during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He worked as a land surveyor for the Schofield Brothers in Orleans. Around 1974, George and Linda acquired the Forest Beach Motel and specifically, Bearse Reality. During this time, George served as a volunteer firefighter for the Chatham Fire and Rescue Department, eventually retiring with the rank of Captain. George loved his hometown and felt great enjoyment in his roll as a public servant for the Town of Chatham. Among his rolls, he was a member of the Board of Health, and Chairman of the Cemetery Commission. His work followed wherever he went and he was quick to share a story or two about the history and the people of Chatham.

Following his native roots, George “originally started with the (Chatham) Band at the ripe old age of 12, marching with the bass drum and playing cymbals.” He worked without fail setting‐up and breaking‐down the Friday night summer concerts; following in his father’s steps, he became a member of the Band joining his brother and nephew, playing the saxophone. He eventually became the manager of the Band, and held that position for many years.

George attended St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church of Chatham, where he enjoyed being in service to the church and the congregation, serving as usher and a member of the vestry. He was also a dedicated brother of St. Martin’s Masonic Lodge.

A Memorial Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022 from 9 am ‐ 11 am at Nickerson Funeral Home, 87 Crowell Road, Chatham. Memorial Service will follow at 11 am, concluding with a Masonic Funeral Service and burial at Seaside Cemetery, Chatham. Lodge to open at 11:30 AM at Seaside Cemetery, St. Martin’s Lodge A.F. & A.M.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Chatham Fire Department, St. Martin’s Masonic Lodge, or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.

12/04/2021

Alexander "Alex" Gribko Jr., Age 85 died suddenly on November 30th. He was born in Bridgeport CT to Irene (Roscoe) and Alexander Gribko Sr. He was the youngest of 3 brothers, Bob (deceased) and Richard (CT). He attended Roger Ludlow high school where he was an athlete and track star. He attended UConn and received a degree in Agriculture.

After high school he married Marcy Wharton and they had 3 daughters Betsy, Karen, and Melinda. He worked in Sales and found his niche in Real Estate. He has been a Cape Codder for 60+ years living in Hyannisport, Dennisport and Yarmouth. He met his 2nd wife Janet Grant, and they were married in 1979. He and Janet happily traveled the world for many years. 1st in their beloved sailboat "The Fantasy" and later traveled the U.S. and Europe by motor home and car.

All of his life he loved the outdoors. He would spend weekends with his daughters teaching them to ski, swim, scuba dive, bike ride, and of course, tennis. He played tennis all of his life. At 85 he still played 3x week. He loved walking. It became more special when he adopted his beloved dog Scooter. In 2012 Alex lost his true love, Janet. Scooter became his dedicated companion. In 2015 he met a very special lady, Betsy Donovan who filled his life with love and happiness. He was truly an enthusiastic and outgoing man who loved talking, swapping stories, and telling jokes. He was truly a man who exemplified a life well lived.

Alex is survived by his brother Dick, his daughters Betsy Hunt (Richard), Karen Warren, and Melinda Gribko-Reyes (David). His grandchildren Rachael Hunt (Mike), Kelly Cormier (Ben), Katie Cormier, Tommy Graham, Harry Graham, Tiesha Reyes Flores (JeanCarlos), Ricardo Reyes, and his 2 great granddaughters Ilaina and Marina Flores.

There is a Celebration of Life being held on Sunday from 3-5 at Nickerson Funeral Home on Crowell Road in Chatham. Please join us in embracing him and his life. Donations in his name can be made to the Animal Rescue League of Boston (Brewster location).

09/30/2021

Jeffrey C. Frank 77, of Chatham, MA died on Monday, September 20, 2021 at Cape Cod Hospital, Hyannis, MA.

Jeffrey was born on February 24, 1944 in Cape Cod Hospital. He was the son of the late Joseph Clarence Frank and Susie (Eldridge) Frank. Jeffrey worked for Chatham Public Works for over 30 years. He then started with his twin brother Jerry, their own Landscaping Company, called the Frank Brothers Landscaping Company for over 14 years in Chatham, before retiring. Jeff loved to read books, watch motion pictures, and TV shows. Jeffrey and Jerry was always seen together at the Larry’s PX, and the Chatham Squire, talking with folks, telling stories and having a good time.

He is survived by his twin brother Jerry Frank of Chatham, and many cousins. He was the brother of the late Jim and Mildred Frank.

His memorial visitation will be held on Friday, October 1, 2021 from 5pm to 7pm in the Nickerson Funeral Home, 87 Crowell Road, Chatham. His burial will be private. Memorial Donations may be made in his memory to Pals For Life Foundation, www.palsforlife.com.

05/15/2021

The Importance of Holding a Funeral - Even a Year Later

LIFE & STYLE

The Importance of Holding a Funeral–Even a Year Later
As pandemic restrictions ease, families who lost relatives in 2020 are finding consolation in mourning together at long-delayed services

By
Clare AnsberryMay 10, 2021

Chris Hamilton, his wife Kristin and their three daughters held a memorial service recently for his mother, Rona, who died last year, days after the pandemic-related lockdown began.

They picked the weekend of her April 23 birthday and set out chairs for 20 relatives and close friends in the yard of their Broomall, Pa., home. A celebrant officiated. The girls, ages 9, 7 and 6, wrote and read poems about gardening with Nana.

Mr. Hamilton, an only child whose father died a decade ago, delivered a eulogy that he had been thinking about for the past 13 months. He had wanted to honor his mother’s life with a gathering, but the pandemic made doing so safely impossible for months. “The guilt and weight on my shoulders for the last year has been lifted,” he says.

Across the country, as restrictions ease and vaccinations become more available, families are holding long-delayed memorial services for those who died last year. Some are being held on a loved one’s birthday or the one-year anniversary of a death, often in parks, yards and cemeteries. Such rituals allow people to share pent-up grief, according to David Kessler, who has written six book about grief.

“It’s never too late to have a meaningful ceremony,” says Alan Wolfelt, founder of the Center for Loss & Life Transition, in Fort Collins, Colo., which offers resources for caregivers and the bereaved. He recalls one family holding a service 28 years after a love done died. “At the time, the patriarch thought it was easier, faster and cheaper not to have a funeral,” says Dr. Wolfelt—a decision the family regretted and ultimately rectified.

What’s Your Grief, an education and support website, recently polled followers on Facebook and Instagram, asking who planned to hold memorial services for loved ones who died last year.

Two thirds of the 166 respondents said they did, with the majority envisioning an intimate, informal gathering and a smaller percentage favoring a traditional funeral or service. One respondent will host an outdoor potluck at her home in July, a year after her mother died. “Many people have stories that need to get out about how she changed their life,” she says. Another follower will hold a service for her mother this month that her eight aunts and uncles can attend.

Others are reluctant but feel compelled. “I personally am still too much of a mess to gather,” wrote one woman who lost both parents last year, “but I am putting together a gathering on Mom’s b day in May so my siblings and family can be together.”

Litsa Williams, a clinical social worker and co-founder of the What’s Your Grief site, says “when you have a funeral, you have the opportunity to look around and see how many lives were touched by a person” and that experience is hard to capture online.

Her own family was unable to have a Greek Orthodox funeral for her uncle, who died last year and was an active member of the church. They plan to invite extended family and friends to a park in Baltimore, perhaps in the fall if it feels safe, for a celebration with food and live music. “In many ways, that will capture a lot more of who my uncle was,” Ms. Williams says.

Even months after a death, families are finding comfort in mourning together. On April 5,a year after Ralph Gismondi died of Covid, his family and friends gathered at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hempstead, N.Y., for a limited-capacity requiem Mass for the68-year-old retired firefighter and JetBlue attendant.

In the church, an urn with his ashes rested in a wreath of flowers next to a photo of Mr. Gismondi holding a lobster, one of his favorite foods. His teenage grandsons wrote tributes, printed in the program, about how “Pop Pop” loved to make others laugh. His
older daughter, Lisa Miller, delivered a eulogy. Afterward, a woman approached Lori Gismondi Gonzalez, his other daughter, and talked about meeting her father in the 1980s at the fire department and how kind he was. “I might not have heard that story if we didn’t have the funeral,” Ms. Gonzalez says. Those stories and the chance to honor her father publicly and in his parish church gave the family “a sense of peace,” she says.

Elisa Chase, international director of the nonprofit Celebrant Foundation and Institute in Montclair, N.J., noticed an uptick in requests over the past month for someone to officiate at a memorial service. The institute is affiliated with 1,500 certified celebrants who are independent contractors. “One woman I spoke with says she was so afraid that if she waited much longer, people wouldn’t come,” Ms. Chase says. For the memorials, some families are booking restaurants with outdoor seats, sending save-the-date cards and creating table centerpieces that reflect a loved one’s favorite sports team.

Others aren’t ready for a ceremony just yet. “A truly meaningful memorial involves relatives coming in from around the country,” says Sabila Khan, of Jersey City, N.J., whose76-year-old father, Shafqat Khan, died of Covid in April 2020. “There is still too much uncertainty.” For the one-year anniversary of their father’s death, her brother flew from Dallas so the family, now all vaccinated, could visit his grave. It was the first time the immediate family had been together since her father died, says Ms. Khan, who co-founded the Facebook group Covid-19 Loss Support for Family and Friends.

For much of the past year, the Hamiltons remembered Rona through their own private rituals. Kristin and the girls picked recipes from Rona’s recipe box to bake cookies on the anniversary of her death and made a memory board with photos.

But they always wanted to do something more and, with vaccines available, her birthday approaching and weather warm enough to be outside, they turned to Beth Palubinsky, a certified celebrant, to officiate and help organize. She incorporated Rona’s love for gardening into the memorial, where guests could plant wildflowers in the Hamiltons’ yard. Ms. Palubinsky says having that year between Rona’s death and her memorial gave the family time to think about how to celebrate her life. “Grief softens a bit,” she says.

Write to Clare Ansberry at clare.ansberry@wsj.com
Copyright © 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit https://www.djreprints.com.

05/03/2021

Deborah A. Price
1957 - 2021

Deborah Ann (Collingwood) Price, 64, passed away peacefully with both her daughters by her side on April 28, 2021. She was born on St. Valentine's Day, February 14, 1957 at Cape Cod Hospital to Harry and Janet Collingwood. Deb was born and raised on Cape Cod and graduated from Chatham High School in 1975.

Deb was a woman of many talents, and some of which would be classified as a lost art. She would hang and repair gill nets at Cape Fishermen's Supply for over 35 years, and many of the fishermen who frequented Cape Fish had dined on her delicious Shepherd's Pie at the Chatham Squire before that. Deb was a PFL (pal for life), to many of her former coworkers at the Squire and will be dearly missed. She worked at Haven's Market also.

If you asked her what her greatest achievement was though, she would smile and say her two girls. Deb loved people (everyone!), the ocean, the beach, the camp and Gracie, the golden retriever. She had an infectious smile and a real zest for life. At the time of her passing she lived with her daughter Nicole and Nicole's husband Marc in the cutest little basement apartment. It was built with love.

Deb is survived by her daughter Nicole Belanger, her husband Marc and their son Jarred; her daughter Amanda L. Price; brother Harry Collingwood, Jr. and his wife Sandra, sister Faith Caswell and her husband Sean; and nephews Niles Draper, Jeremy Tansey and Aaron Caswell. She was predeceased by her parents Harry J. Collingwood, Sr. and Janet (Duchesney) Collingwood.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the Pals For Life Foundation, 213 AP Newcomb Rd. Brewster, Ma. 02631. www.palsforlife.com The PFL Foundation helped Deb and she would want to give back. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, June 18 from 4 to 8 pm at the Chatham VFW, 150 George Ryder Rd., West Chatham. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.

“I was only singing songs of billowed sails and sea, mending nets on yellow sand when he said: 'Follow me.'” - Simon's Song (Footsteps on the Sea), Graham Kendrick

04/12/2021

FEMA COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Guidelines.

If you lost a loved one due to COVID-19 and paid for that loved one's funeral, interment or cremation after January 20, 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has stepped up to provide reimbursement for those expenses.

You may qualify for up to $9,000 for funeral costs related to a single loved one and up to $35,500 for funeral costs related to multiple COVID-19 deaths.

Applications for assistance open Monday, April 12, 2021, through a dedicated FEMA call center at 844-684-6333 (or 800-462-7585 for TTY).

FEMA does not permit us to submit documentation on your family's behalf.

In fact, no one can register you for FEMA Funeral Assistance but you. FEMA has received reports of scammers reaching out to people offering to register them for funeral benefits. FEMA has not sent any such notifications and will not contact you before you register for the program.

Learn more and find out if you qualify for reimbursement HERE.

We continue to serve our guests with the highest standard of health and safety.

As always, we are committed to honoring your loved one with the highest level of dignity. And we will ensure you and your guests feel safe conducting services with us.

Unfortunately, there may be unavoidable delays during this challenging time. We apologize for lengthy hold times or delays in arrangements as we serve each family with the highest level of care and compassion.

For your safety, we have developed rigorous health and safety procedures in conjunction with local, state, provincial and CDC guidelines. We are offering multiple options for arrangements and services to serve you, including:
•In-person arrangements and pre-planning consultations at the location or your home.
•Phone, email and web arrangements to help families with funeral arrangements.
•Livestreamed funeral and graveside services..
•Web and phone pre-planning consultations for funeral and cemetery arrangements.
•In-person or no-contact cemetery visitation and tours.

You can trust that we are taking the steps necessary to responsibly serve the communities we are privileged to be a part of. Please contact us directly if you have questions or for more information.