Mar 14, 1931 - Feb 8, 2024 DIODATI, Viola 'Nicki' - March 14, 1931 - February 8, 2024, "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." Mae West Viola Diodati (Nichol) did it right. Her 92 years on this earth were proof of that. "Nicki" as she was known, loved deeply, shared generously, stood proudly, and lived daily with integrity and grace. On Thursday, February 8th, with her devoted family by her side, this compassionate matriarch passed peacefully at the Greater Niagara General Hospital. Nicki's life was filled with adventure, happiness, struggles, benevolence, independence, fulfillment and loss, and the example she set will continue to stand as a testament to tenacity and generosity of spirit. Born in a beachfront cottage on Bay de Chaleur in Blackland, New Brunswick, Nicki moved with her parents, Lillian and Angus, and 8 siblings to Guelph in 1940. Her strong work ethic emerged early on when she landed a job at a local pickle factory. The job lasted two days. Nicki was let go after management discovered she was only 13 years old. Crushed for being let go? She was. Daunted? Quite the opposite. At the age of sixteen Nicki became a farmerette and spent a season working at orchards in Niagara Falls picking fruit. It was here one evening at a community dance that Nicki met a handsome young man named Frank Diodati whom she married in 1953. By 1965 Frank and Nicki had built and opened Lakeview Inn Motel in Fort Erie where they welcomed guests from far and wide. Following the death of her beloved Frank in 1974, Nicki continued to run the motel while raising their two young boys, Michael and Jim. This ambitious entrepreneur later opened the Textile Junction with her friend Marlene and had great fun selling a kaleidoscope of fabrics, lending to her own personal collection of textiles to fuel her passion for sewing. Nicki had a mind for business and a heart for giving back. A tireless volunteer who gave of her time to organizations helping those less fortunate, she was also an active member of the CWL at St. Thomas More and supported the annual church bazaars. Every sweet tooth in town made a dash to Nicki's fundraising candy booth. Giving hope to the misguided, Nicki also ministered at the Niagara Detention Centre by bringing church services to troubled men. On a trip one year to the Holy Land with her sister-in-law, Yola, Nicki quite literally 'walked in the footsteps of Christ' - an experience that she treasured for 40 years. Gardening, ceramics, Bunka embroidery and paper tole were some of Nicki's hobbies and talents that fulfilled her creative side and blessed countless others that benefited from her artistry. Also an avid knitter, she wove love into every hat and pair of slippers that she made for family, friends and those in need, donating over 1,000 toques to the Cancer Society and the Salvation Army. That's a lot of toques. Recognition wasn't needed; compassion was her motivation. Nicki's door was always as open as her generous heart. She was a gracious hostess, a second mom to extended family members and exchange students, an approachable conversationalist and a magician in the kitchen who could whip up an entire meal from what seemed to be an empty fridge. No one ever left her home feeling hungry or unfulfilled. Four-legged friends of every breed also found comfort in Nicki's care. A dog owner throughout her life, she will be missed by her latest companion, Dusty. Her greatest pride by far was her two sons, the late Michael Diodati (2021) and Jim 'JP'. She guided and protected them like a lone lioness and they loved her as deeply in return. Family was everything to Nicki and she adored spending time with hers - particularly her granddaughters and the children of her many nieces and nephews. She would speak and play with them at their level, literally, even in her golden years lying on the floor playing with them or wrapped in an apron teaching them to cook, sew or knit. She was the type to make every birthday feel special and never missed sending a card. She knew the simple joy of letter writing and the power of a hand-written thank you note. She was one-of-a-kind and loved by many. Nicki is survived by her son Jim 'JP' (Mike), granddaughters Megan Little and Jamilah Diodati, daughter-in-law Fateema Shockry, brother Donald (Maria) Nichol, sisters-in-law Jean Nichol, Gwen Nichol, and brother-in-law Jim (Mary Ann) Diodati. Predeceased by her parents Angus and Lillian Nichol, and siblings Margaret (Archie) Cunningham, Roberta (Lloyd) Millard, Lydia (Austin) Welsh, John (Harriet) Nichol, Robert (Eileen) Nichol, Boyd Nichol, sister-in-law Barb Nichol and Daniel Nichol as well as her in-laws Domenic (Lilly) Diodati, Charlie (Anne) Diodati, Eleanor DelVecchio, Josephine (Walter) Shubsda, Mary (Mike) Puinno, Jean Diodati and Pat (Yola) Diodati. She will be forever remembered by her many special nieces, nephews, many godchildren and her dear friend Dorothy Rose. Take another look at that sweet face in the photo above. That's what living right looks like. You will be missed, Nicki Diodati, by all who were blessed to know and love you. Friends are invited to join the family at PATTERSON FUNERAL HOME, 6062 Main St. Niagara Falls, on Thursday February 15, 2024, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 16, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Church, 6458 Dorchester Road, Niagara Falls. The Rite of Committal will follow at Fairview Cemetery. In Nicki's memory, donations to Niagara Health Foundation's "It's Our Future" campaign for the new Niagara Hospital would be appreciated by her family. Online condolences at pattersonfuneralhome.com