Donna Ann Nice

Rye – Donna A. Nice, 77, of Rye, formerly longtime resident of Portsmouth, passed away peacefully from complications due to multiple sclerosis on December 5, 2023, at Webster at Rye in Rye, NH. surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Burlington, Vermont on New Year’s Day - January 1, 1946. Donna attended high school in Spain where she was the Valedictorian of her class. Growing up in an Air Force family, she visited many destinations which always included interesting stories for her children and grandchildren. She later settled in New Hampshire where she worked at Pease Air Force Base as a secretary. It was at Pease where she would meet her true love, Stan J. Nice. They married in December of 1967, spending 55 happy years together on the seacoast before his passing in 2022. The Nice’s later moved and settled in Portsmouth, NH where Donna retired from the Portsmouth Regional Hospital after over 30 years of dedicated service. While serving both colleagues and patients, Donna was awarded the Frist Humanitarian Award. Award winners are nominated by their hospital peers, for employees whose daily dedication and caregiving epitomize the highest standards of quality and personal commitment. Donna’s greatest rewards were the many beautiful friendships that grew at Portsmouth Hospital and her Maple Haven neighbors who became like family for the rest of her life. Donna was a gentle and compassionate soul who wasn’t afraid to share her faith, wisdom, and great sense of humor with others. She dearly cherished her husband and treasured every moment with her children. Her unending support and love were evident throughout her life as she often put family needs before her own. Her strong faith and service to the Lord were evident throughout her life. She often told her children, “I started praying for your future spouses when you were little.” Donna’s prayers were answered. Donna also served as a faithful CCD teacher and later as a Marriage Focus Counselor preparing and supporting new couples getting married. A very important job. Donna loved her 4 grandchildren. She radiated both pride and love in every interaction and attended as many events as her body would allow. Whether or not she could attend a basketball, football, track, or judo competition; Nana was their biggest fan. She was in love with them, and they with her. Although Donna and Stan spent many nights tearing up the Country-Line dance floor, Donna was without question the happiest when surrounded by family. Whether it was cooking, playing a board-game, attending many tea-parties, watching movies, throwing another Patriot’s Super-bowl party, smoking homemade kielbasa, or simply surrounded by family, she appreciated every moment and felt love. Donna will be missed for her wisdom, selfless ways, and her genuine ability to make others feel as if they were the only person in the room. Donna was truly graceful in spirit and grateful in nature. This helped sustain her until the end. Donna’s family is abundantly grateful for the tender care and compassion she received from the “legion of angels” who cared for her at Webster in Rye while living there. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Donna is survived by her son Keith and spouse Marianne Nice, and their two children, Cameron and Natalie Nice of Newmarket; her daughter Alena (Nice) Cusson and husband Barry, and their two children Lauren and Brayden Cusson of Eliot Maine; her brother Ron J. LaCourse and wife Elaine LaCourse; her brother-in-law Robert Van Horn and brother-in-law Alan Nice and wife Mary-Therese Nice as well as several cherished in-laws, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her loving husband, Stan; father and mother, Clifford and Bertha LaCourse and her younger sister Elena Van-Horn. Visiting hours will be 5-7 pm Friday, December 15, 2023, at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home- Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton, NH. A Mass Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 am Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Immaculate Conception Church, Corpus Christi Parish, 98 Summer Street, Portsmouth. A burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Portsmouth. There will be a reception after the burial on the Pease Trade Port (27 International Dr, Portsmouth, NH 03801) In lieu of flowers please consider donations St. Jude https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now.

Donna Ann Nice

January 1, 1946 - December 5, 2023