In March 2024, Nicole Marie (Premo) Mesler – a wonderful daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, friend, and wife, passed away with her loving husband (Herb Mesler) by her side.  Her hand was clasped warmly within his own.  Nicole left for a better place, but far too soon for the rest of us, still stunned by her sudden and unexpected cancer diagnosis.  She leaves a legacy of love and patience, a wonderful smile and a great sense of humor.

Nicole, or Nicki as she was known by her family, was the eldest of her parents Gene and Georgine Premo's brood.  Fortunately, for young Nicki, her three siblings did not begin arriving for four years. Nicki enjoyed these early years as an only child, in part due to the love and affection of her grandparents and cousins.  As the first grandchild of Dr. and Mrs. Milton Premo, M.D., and the first granddaughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lawler Drees, M.D., she enjoyed a level of unconditional love and affection that anyone who is a grandparent or looks forward to becoming one can appreciate.

As Nicole welcomed her sister (Michelle) and two younger brothers (Patrick and Richard), she became skilled in her role as a great big sister.  She was legendary in her bologna sandwich-making abilities.  We will forever see a bologna sandwich and share a smile and laugh with her from above.

Nicole attended the College of Notre Dame Belmont (now Notre Dame de Namer University).  She was a legacy as her grandmother – Mary Teresa (Fatjo) Premo – also received her college degree from there.  Nicole found her footing and confidence at Notre Dame; she never looked back.  While some may fear adulting, Nicki threw herself it into headfirst.  She loved every minute and quickly decided that the mid-Peninsula would be her permanent home.  This was very fortunate.  For after earning her master's degree in education, she relocated to Redwood City where she met a cycling enthusiast and Navy veteran, Herb Mesler.  He was and will always be – her one true love, affording her the happiest years of her life.  They married in 1997 and made San Carlos their home.

Nicole spent 30+ years in education, most of that time at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Redwood City.  She loved teaching, particularly fourth grade, and cared deeply about her students as they did for her.  Her classroom duties gave her the excuse to bring to school guinea pigs and turtles for the kids to enjoy and for her and Herb to embrace at home.

When not working or spending time with family (later helping care for her aging parents), Nicole enjoyed a variety of activities with her husband.  They had a shared passion for geocaching; and she and Herb would explore the beautiful forests and parks of the Bay Area and beyond.  Their local trips, including the annual trip to the Half Moon Bay Art and Pumpkin Festival, only strengthened the bond and affection that they held for one another.  Their devotion was never more apparent than the last months of her life when Herb dutifully kept watch in her hospital rooms, at home, sleeping in an easy chair every night in the last weeks of her life, just to enjoy their final moments together.

Nicole is survived by her husband (Herb), her sister and brother-in-law (Michelle and Brian Walsh), her brother and his partner (Patrick Premo and Terese McNamee), brother and his wife (Richard and Suzanne Premo), her nine nieces and nephews (John and Jessica Walsh, Katherine, William, Carolyn and Charles Premo, and Isabella, Jonah and Luca Premo), her uncle (Robert Enright), aunt (Carol Premo), her aunt and uncle (Florence and Joseph Ziemann), as well as numerous cousins, with whom she enjoyed many years of shared holidays, backyard parties, graduations and weddings.  She is predeceased by her parents, grandparents, her uncle and aunt (Dick and Jane Drees), her aunt (Roberta Enright), uncle (John Premo), and cousin (Joe Drees).

Services honoring Nicole's life will begin with a rosary on April 10, 2024, at 6:30 pm at the Alameda Family Funeral Home in Saratoga.  It will be live-streamed at https://vimeo.com/event/4188799/2fe43685b6.

The funeral mass will be offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 300 Fulton Street, Redwood City on Friday, April 12 at 10 am.  It will be streamed at:

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Redwood City Facebook Page.  https://www.facebook.com/MtCarmelChurchRedwoodCity, and

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Redwood City YouTube Channel.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjmQ6DYMFwmxNiOmq389Rhg

There will be a reception immediately following the mass at Notre Dame de Namur University, 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, California.  Interment and committal will then follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 1500 Mission Road, Colma, California.

In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to:  The NDNU Emergency Scholarship Fund, Office of Advancement, Notre Dame de Namur University, 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, Calif. 94002-1908.  The purpose of this fund is to create an expendable scholarship to support any student enrolled at Notre Dame de Namur University who demonstrates financial need.