Nicole Rae Chaney

Nicole Rae Chaney (nee) Juhl of Dunkirk, MD, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, at the age of 44. Nicole Rae Chaney was born on October 6, 1970 in a hurricane-damaged hospital aboard Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. Conditions were Spartan and she was even switched with another baby as they were handed out for feeding. Mom notices right away even before unwrapping, but had to go all the way to convince a skeptical nurse. We had a girl baby, Mrs. Juhl was handed a boy baby. Nicole’s fighting spirit had an early start. Her Navy parents soon moved to Monterey, CA and from there to Naval Air Station Alameda, CA. When her dad’s ship changed home port to San Diego, she and the rest of her family, including the family car, were loaded on board and sailed south; her first cruise. From California they moved to Salt Lake City, UT, where she started school. After Utah they spent time in Iowa attending Ventura Public School and then overseas to Atsugi Air Base, Japan, where they spent almost four years getting her part way through middle school. A high light of living in Japan were many activities, including living Japanese style (frozen water in the kitchen on winter mornings) and a hiking trip to observe sunrise up MT. Fuji with her Dad. After Japan they spent two years in New York City living on Governors Island. Riding a Coast Guard ferry to Manhattan every day for school near midtown; a long MTA bus ride. This is another time her sense of adventure kicked in, as her and school chums would catch rides home with limo drivers headed down to Wall Street in the afternoons after school for regular fares. After New York and Dad’s retirement from the Navy, she lived in Southern Maryland and graduated from Leonardtown High School. She was elected Senior Class President after only attending there for two years. She was a member of the Track Team at Leonardtown and a school cheerleader as well. Following High School she attended and graduated from St. Mary’s University in St. Mary’s City, MD with a degree in Political Sciences. After that she served in a number of jobs in law offices in Southern Maryland before landing a job in Washington, DC. She quickly climbed to managing the Accounting Office for other prominent law firms in Washington, DC. In 1994, Nicole met a young man through a mutual friend. Little did she know, but Robert Chaney, Jr. would become the love of her life…they married on September 5, 1998. In 1999, they moved to Dunkirk and started their family, Mason was born in 2000, followed by Riley in 2002 and Nathan in 2006. During these years, she also obtained two additional undergraduate degrees from the University of Maryland, volunteered at Relay for Life and served as an officer in the Dunkirk Warriors Lacrosse club. The family enjoyed going to Myrtle Beach and traveling to different towns to discover new and exciting treasures they held. Vacations always centered around family adventures, she really enjoyed being together as a family. Nicole was never too tired to attend children’s sporting events, school activities and see to their homework. On top of all this she paid regular visits to her parents home in North Carolina traveling there by train and husband Rob coming down later for the drive home. Nicole had a special love of life. Her smile would light up a room no matter how she felt or what she was doing. She brought laughter and happiness to everyone around her. She had an overwhelming kindness to all her friends and coworkers. It was said by many who worked for her that she was the best “Boss” and if it wasn’t for her they would have left the law firm. Nicole is survived by her husband, Robert L. Chaney, Jr.; three children; Mason 15, Riley 13 and Nathan 9; a sister Coleen Rae Alexander and her husband Garry and their two children, EmaLee and Joseph; her parents Douglas and Paula Juhl and parents-in-law Robert and Evelyn Chaney. She is also survived by numerous other family and friends. Memorial Contributions may be made to Calvert Hospice, P O Box 838, Prince Frederick, MD 20678. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Nicole Rae Chaney please visit our Sympathy Store.