Mary Therese (Concannon) Cole

WORCESTER - Mary Therese (Concannon) Cole, 90, of Worcester, MA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at Christopher House Nursing Home, 10 Mary Scano Drive, Worcester, Massachusetts. Mary is predeceased by her loving husband, Joseph A. Cole, who recently passed away at the age of 90 in July 2022, as well as a son, David A. Cole, who died at 4 days old.

Born in 1932 and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Mary was the first child born to Michael John and Mary Louise (O'Hare) Concannon. She is predeceased by her mother and father and a younger sister, Louise, who died at the tender age of 6 months of spina bifida.

Mary grew up in Lowell across the street from her paternal grandparents and four unmarried aunts who were often guilty of spoiling their only niece and grandchild until Aunt Minnie married and cousin John came along. Mary spent many a summer's day at her Grandfather Concannon's camp called "Country Pond" at the point of Country Pond in Kingston, NH. She often lovingly recalled many adventurous times as a child swimming and playing at Grandpa's camp. Grandpa was especially proud and protective of his young granddaughter, and he lovingly built a child's boat in his workshop that would not overturn in the water. As a young woman and young married adult, Mary and her family enjoyed many a day at Country Pond. Over the years, many endearing memories were made and cherished at camp until it was later sold.

Mary received an excellent education at Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsboro, MA, where she attended primary and middle school and graduated from the upper high school in 1950. The nuns at Notre Dame were strict but kind and Mary was known for her sharp mind. In middle school, she won a spelling bee with the word "Onomatopoeia." The nuns taught her to remember that Edgar Allan Poe's last name appeared in the word and she proudly won the spelling bee.

Mary attended classes and received college credit at the formerly known Lowell Teachers College. As a young woman, she worked at New England Telephone and Telegraph. She was introduced to her future husband, Joseph A. Cole, through her Aunt Minnie who had a teacher's apprenticeship in Paxton, MA, and where she met Joe's mother, a teacher and principal at the Paxton Center School. When they first met, Mary's impression of Joe was that of an "old hayseed" from the country. Something, however, naturally clicked and the country boy and city girl fell in love and were married for more than 67 years.

As a young married woman, Mary and Joe owned and operated a Holstein Dairy Farm in North Spencer, MA for many years where they raised 6 children on the farmstead. Initially, Mary was intimidated by the cows, but she soon overcame her fear and eventually settled into married life on the farm. Many fond memories and stories were often told over the years of life on the farm, stories that emanated many a family conversation. After selling the family farm, Mary and Joe moved their young family to Paxton, MA where they lived for many years. Mary was a homemaker and then once all of the children were of school age, she worked for over 30 years as a bank teller for Guaranty Bank & Trust. In the autumn of their lives, Joe and Mary relocated to Vero Beach, Florida where they enjoyed many retirement years oceanside before returning to Massachusetts in their twilight years.

Mary was a sharp-minded woman and loving mother. She instilled strong moral values in her children through her chastening and patient love. She enjoyed many an intellectual pursuit and was a voracious reader. Her respite was the ocean and she especially enjoyed the beaches of New Hampshire, Cape Cod and Rhode Island. She and Joe enjoyed traveling over the years, but a trip to Ireland with Joe especially brought much joy! Mary was always very proud of her husband, Joe, and the life they built together and of their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A woman of deep faith and a devout Catholic, Mary was a member of St. Columba Church in Paxton, MA and St. Helen's Parish in Vero Beach, FL for many years, but attended many a Mass at other churches here and abroad. Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, Mary could be heard singing to Heaven above at Sunday Mass.

Mary will be lovingly missed by her son, Michael J. Cole of Spencer MA; her daughter-in-law, Kim Messier Cole and her beau Jan Ilvonen of Auburn MA; her son, Peter B. Cole and his wife Karen (Bouchard) of Holden MA; her daughter, Elizabeth A. (Cole) Hill and her husband James of Holden MA; her daughter, Ellen M. Cole and her wife Tracy (Senecal) of Rutland MA; her son, Stephen P. Cole of Worcester MA; her daughter, Joanne L. Cole and her beau Clarence V. LaBonte, III of Worcester MA; her granddaughter, Megan L. Cole Tighe and her husband Brian of Austin, TX and their son, Townes; her granddaughter, Jamie L. Cole Frazer and her husband Jay and their children, Adilyn and Natalia of San Francisco, CA; her granddaughter, Kelly A. Cole and her husband Kevin Lowe of Sterling, MA; her grandson, Brian Joseph Cole and his wife Nicole and their children, Laci, Chloe and Liam of Spencer MA; and her granddaughter, Sarah E. Hill Gigliotti and her husband Michael of Worcester MA. She also leaves behind close family friends, Elaine Donovan of North Andover MA, James and Mary Ann O'Hearn of Buzzards Bay MA, and all their cherished friends in Florida, especially, John and Rose Collins, and Thomas and Simonetta Steyer.

A private graveside burial service will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at Holy Rosary & St. Mary's Cemetery in Spencer, MA. The beloved Deacon Eduardas Meilus from St. John's Church in Worcester will be officiating graveside. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The family wishes to extend much gratitude to the Christopher House Nursing Home for its compassionate care. Funeral arrangements were made under the care of Miles Funeral Home, Holden, MA.

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