PHIPPSBURG — Nicole Marie-Louise Cather, 67, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, after a long illness. She was born in Rabat, Morocco, on Oct. 17, 1946, to Daniel and Maria Persia Sardelli de Clerfayt. She attended French Catholic schools in Rabat until 1963 when the family moved to Madrid, Spain. After a short period in Irun, Spain she attended the University of South Carolina, graduating in 1968. She attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, receiving a master’s degree in Spanish with a secondary education certificate in 1973.

At the end pf her time at Sam Houston she met her future husband Phil. Nicole and Phil married in 1973 in Jacksonville, Fla., as Phil was entering Navy pilot training. Nicole taught high school in Pensacola and Corpus Cristi until the Cathers moved to Brunswick in 1975.

Nicole always counted the three years teaching Spanish at Brunswick High School as among her happiest. Throughout Phil’s career they lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (two tours), Norfolk, Va., Hawaii and Lisbon, Portugal. Nicole taught high school while they were in the U.S. and worked as an assistant consul for the U.S. State Department while in Brazil and Portugal.

After Phil retired in 1995, Nicole attended the University of Houston, receiving a second master’s in foreign languages. While in the Houston program, she twice received the Most Outstanding Graduate Teacher Award for the Humanities Department and taught in the U of H Summer Language

Program in Bourges, France. After their return to Maine, Nicole taught for two years at Wiscasset High School.

Nicole loved travel, cooking and entertaining. After returning to Maine she was finally able to pursue her love of plants and gardening. Always an animal lover, she was dedicated to her special cat Archie and volunteered as a driver for A PAW in the Door.

Nicole was a beloved wife, friend and caring mentor who loved people. A friend once said lovingly that, “Nicole never met anyone she didn’t want to share life stories with.”

Nicole is survived by her husband Phil, her brother and his wife, Alain and Denise de Clerfayt of Rydal, Ga., her niece and husband Claudia and Chris Corriere, and their daughters Emily and Catherine of Atlanta, her cousins Anna Marie McClintock, Carey Ann, Kevin, and Austin Cash of Champaign, Ill. She is also survived by her dearest friends in life, Carmen Fortin of Harpswell and Carmen’s daughters Nellie and Kieley. Additionally, she is survived by her Uncle Jean Velard, and Cousins Christine, Chantal and Jean Yves Hockard of France.

Friends and family will get together to honor Nicole’s life on Sunday, Sept. 28, between 2 and 4 p.m. at the Cathers’ home. In lieu of flowers, Nicole would wish donations be made to A Paw in the Door, 16 Winter St., Bath, ME 04530, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

To share your thoughts and condolences with the family, please visit www.desmondfuneralhomes.com.