Edward R. Nichols 72 of Braintree passed away July 13 2014 fighting a courageous battle with colon cancer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Dear son of the late Charles and Margaret (St. James) Nichols. Beloved fiancé of Dolores Pascarella of Quincy. Loving brother of Margaret McHugh of Weymouth and Claire Swanton and her husband James of Abington. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and his friends Richard DuBois of Pepperell and Peter Shea of Marthas Vineyard. Ed was born in Dorchester and was a Navy Veteran. He retired in 1997 after working as a millwright for 22 years for GTE Sylvania in Needham. He was a member of the Braintree Emergency Management Agency and the Friends of the Homeless of the South Shore. Ed loved to bike ride, travel and attend car shows. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday July 18 at 10 A.M in the Church of St. Clare 1244 Liberty St. Braintree Highlands. Interment Union Cemetery Holbrook. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit McMaster Funeral 86 Franklin St. (Rt.37) Braintree, on Thursday from 5-8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Dana Farber Tribute Program 1 Harvard St. Brookline MA 02146-9795