Jane E. Michalski, 64

Jane Elizabeth Michalski, 64, of Laconia, passed away peacefully on Nov. 28, 2025, surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with illness. Jane grew up in Center Sandwich, and was part of the class of 1979 at Inter-Lakes High School.

A hardworking and multifaceted woman, Jane held many roles throughout her life. She cared for the elderly in her small town, was a jet-setting nanny for Hollywood producers, worked at many restaurants and farm stands throughout the Lakes Region, and was a special education teacher at Newfound Memorial Middle School. No matter the job, Jane brought ingenuity, resourcefulness, humor, compassion, and a fierce devotion to those around her.

Jane is survived by her mother June H. Nicoli of Boscawen; her father Francis B. Nicoli of Ashland; her brother Vincent and his wife Janice MacKenzie of Lancaster; her sister Cathy Nicoli of Bristol, Rhode Island; her daughters Elysz Michalski of Manchester, and Antonia McKerley of Boscawen; and her beloved granddaughter Isabelle McKerley. She also leaves behind her soulmate and partner Mike Bailey of Laconia; her best friend since kindergarten Sue Welch of Dover; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends, many of whom have been part of her life since childhood.

Jane was an avid reader, had a restless intelligence, was innately observant and curious, and loved learning new things. She loved to cook — and people loved to eat what she cooked. She was sought after for her canned goods, which won numerous blue ribbon awards over the years at the Sandwich Fair. Making homemade foods was a cherished ritual connecting Jane to her beloved grandparents, Elizabeth and Reuben Hodge and Ida Nicoli; she took pride and joy in preserving the old-world self-sufficiency skills she had learned from them as a child. Jane also loved gardening, fishing, and spending time outdoors in nature — places where her independent spirit felt most at home. She will be remembered as strong-willed, adventurous, candid, creative, protective, nurturing, resilient, poetic, and blessed with a wonderfully dark and witty sense of humor. As Jane often embodied the spirit of the wild, this quote reflects her strength: “A wolf stands strong not because it fits in with the pack, but because it knows how to stand on its own."

A celebration of Jane’s life will be held at a later date, along with a separate ash ceremony, with details to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness in Jane Elizabeth Michalski’s honor.