Nicole "Niki" Bahen

Nicole C. “Niki” Bahen passed away on August 14th, 2025, from recurrence of brain cancer. Born on August 21, 1995, to Patrick S. Bahen and Mary Diehlmann Smith (formerly known as Mary D Bahen).

She was a happy, outgoing, vibrant 5-year-old when her world was forever changed following the diagnosis of and treatment for a cancerous brain tumor. Due to a blend of her fighting spirit, determination and resilience she survived. The ordeal left her with lifelong challenges of which she faced with the same tenacity and resolve. Niki was raised in Friendship, MD. She graduated from The Harbour School, Annapolis Campus, in 2017. She was immensely proud to be a member of the Auxillary at CalvertHealth Medical Center where she volunteered on a regular basis. Her favorite pass time was to make jewelry. It gave her great pleasure to make personalized gifts for family and friends, she branded her treasures “NikNaks by Niki” and sold them at local craft fairs, yard sales, and gift shops. She donated a portion of her proceeds to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Niki loved cats. In addition to showering her own cats with love she volunteered at CAWL as a cat socializer. She frequently visited the SPCA or a Cat café to play with those cats in need of homes. Niki also enjoyed going to the gym and exercising. Despite her difficulty walking due to her disability Niki trained for and completed the Key West 5K. Niki was always planning ahead to celebrate family and friends’ birthdays and holiday parties! She loved her family and friends dearly. She was always thinking of and looking forward to visiting them.

Niki is preceded in death by her grandparents, Joseph “Papa Joe” and Janice Bahen, grandfather Frederick “Pop Pop Skip” Diehlmann and her faithful cat Pumpkin “Punk”. Niki is survived by her father Patrick Bahen, her mother Mary Smith and her husband Steve; brother Joseph Bahen, sister-in-law Sara and nephew Joseph Wallace; sister Allison Bahen; grandmother Constance Diehlmann; Uncles Michael (Dawn) Bahen, Timothy Bahen, and Rick Diehlmann; Aunts Lisa (Mike Owings) Durst, Deborah (Joe Gegor) Diehlmann, Tonia (Regan) Linke.

Niki’s life will be celebrated with a memorial gathering at Lee Funeral Home Calvert, 8200 Jennifer Lane, Owings, MD 20736 on Thursday August 21, 2025, from 2:00pm-4:00pm & 6:00pm-8:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 1601 West Mount Harmony Road, Owings, MD 20736 on August 22, 2025, at 11:00 am. Interment will be private.

The family kindly requests that, instead of sending flowers, donations be made in Nicole’s memory to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

https://team.curethekids.org/fundraiser/6564562