Nicolina 'Nicki' Van Meter

Nicolina Juliet (Silvio) VanMeter, lovingly known as “Nicki”, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2026 in Sterling Heights, MI at the age of 84. Nicki was born on April 29, 1942 and grew up in Detroit, Michigan first generation from Sicily with her beloved parents Calogero and Salvatora Silvio and siblings Dominic (Paula) and Josephine (William). Nicki was the beloved wife of Robert VanMeter for 43 beautiful years. Loving mother of Renee (Ree) Marie Calado and the late Paul M. Ketelhut and step-mother of Robert Jr. (the late Dianna), the late Phil (Emma), Kevin (Rebecca Ann), and Jody (Tamara). Proud and adored grandmother of Alana Selma Edginton, Isabella R. Calado, Brianna Paige Calado, and Julian Austin Calado. Cherished great-grandmother of three great-grandkids: Lorelei Marie Charlotte, Ronald Salvatore Randolph, and Sophia Lee. Along with many other family members in her huge family and family friends she has made throughout her life. Nicki worked at Warrick Controls where she found a sense of pride and made several lifetime friends. Nicki showed her love through cooking just like her own mother. She took great pleasure in serving her Sicilian food to many such as family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and her doctors. Nicki even wrote two of her own cookbooks that were passed along to family members and friends which are still being used to this day. The first cookbook was her pride and joy in that she spent a tremendous amount of time putting together family recipes and pictures of everyone she loved. She was proud to have the help of her niece Annie and other family members in this process. Something else Nicki was extremely proud of was her grandchildren. She called us all Grandma’s baby or Grandma’s sugar which we will treasure forever. She was known as the Grandma of the court in which she lived. All of the grandchildren absolutely enjoyed grandma time and her delicious cooking. She taught us all how to cook and for that is one way we can keep her memory alive. Nicki’s grandchildren and her goddaughter Marie have many fond memories watching her favorite show “I Love Lucy”. She was a proud owner of all the tapes of the show which will be passed down. Another thing Nicki enjoyed immensely was the house she built, the court in which she lived, and the neighbors that turned into family. She loved the bonds she built with her neighbors along with their children and grandchildren. As mentioned before she was known as the Grandma of the court and all of the kids loved walking over to Grandma Nicki’s house. Nicki loved to sit in the front room with her husband, Bob, and watch the people and cars go by in the cul-de-sac for this was her happy place. Visitation Wednesday 2-9pm with Sharing of Memories at 6pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc. 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 Mile). Instate Thursday 10:30am until time of the 11:00am Mass at St. Malachy Catholic Church, 14115 E 14 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48312. Immediately following Mass there will be a procession to Resurrection Cemetery, Clinton Township, MI, to witness Entombment. Please share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guestbook" at WujekCalcaterra.com.

Nicolina 'Nicki' Van Meter

April 29, 1942 - August 25, 2026