Patricia F. (Breen) Cote

WORCESTER - Patricia F. (Breen) Cote, 90, passed away peacefully with her beloved husband by her side on Thursday, June 15, 2023. Born in Milford in 1932, Pat was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (DiNardo) Breen.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Joseph L. Cote, Sr.; a son William Cote of Haverhill; a granddaughter, Angela Cote; great-granddaughters, Kaylee, and Kaia Blain; a brother, William Breen and his wife, Marion of Newmarket NH; beloved in-laws, several godchildren and generations of nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her son, Joseph L. Cote, Jr.; three brothers, Joseph, Robert, and Raymond Breen, and three sisters, Mary Ritacco, Shirley Menard, and Florence LeBeau. She'd also endured the losses of eight of her husband's brothers and sisters, whom she loved as her very own.

Although she rarely spoke of it, during her early years, she was known to have performed acts requiring incredible bravery, empathy, and a strong moral compass. All traits which everyone who knew her would associate with her through the years.

Following her graduation from Commerce High School in Worcester, she worked at several jobs. One was at the switchboard for New England Telephone. Through that switchboard, she would be re-introduced to the man with whom she would share her life. When the tornado of 1953 ravaged Worcester, Joe, wanting to help in any way he could, made a call to the "Operator" to ask where he could go to donate blood. Of the hundreds of blinking lights desperately flashing on the switchboard, lovely Patsy randomly connected to a waiting caller. That spontaneous choice was the beginning of a beautiful love story.

Joe and Pat were married in 1954. By the end of the decade, they had become parents to Joey, then Billy. They had also purchased the house in which they would share the remainder of their life together. At that time, Pat quit work to become a full-time mom, devoted to her beloved boys.

Beyond her love for family, she always had great compassion for others. Whenever she was made aware of those in need, she would do her best to bring comfort. She was a sensitive listener and never broke a confidence. When in her own life, heartbreak found her, she displayed uncommon grace, always finding the strength to hold her head up despite her own sadness or fear. She carried on with dignity - always.

Patricia shared an exceptionally strong bond with her sisters-in-law and together they worked diligently to host many family gatherings for decades. Squadrons of cousins enjoyed wonderful times together no matter the season and Pat seemed to never tire of organizing, cooking, baking and more in preparation for large gatherings that have a place forever in the hearts of those for whom she worked, so tirelessly to give happy times and beautiful memories.

As the family grew, the gatherings evolved into huge events, annual pool parties at Pat and Joe's house and massive Christmas parties with Santa at the church hall. Pat would have wrapped gifts at-the-ready, to be doubly sure that every child - regardless of age or gender would not be forgotten. Even the family's Santa received a gift at the annual party - every year, for decades.

Pat personified love and devotion. She was protective and loyal, but she would not hesitate to let anyone know when they crossed the line. Whether in the way she cast her gaze or during a chat over tea and homemade goodies, she would find a way to help others know when she viewed their behavior as out of line.

She was a true lady in every sense of the word, and she set a great example for others to follow.

Pat was thoughtful beyond compare and never failed to remember to make a phone call to check in on others and to always send cards for life's special moments. Those cards always arrived early. She seemed to always know the "right" thing to do, when to speak, what to say and when to listen with her heart.

When her boys were grown, Pat went back to work. She joined the Norton Company and while working there, she earned an Associate Degree at Clark University. Through a series of promotions, she became Supervisor of Marketing. She retired in 1996 after spending 25 years with the company.

She did not retire to a rocking chair ... but instead became very active as a volunteer and dedicated her time to support various organizations such as the Mercy Centre. She became a member of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and the Order of the Alhambra. She was honored by St George Church for her devotion of faith and for sharing her time and talents in service to the church community.

She and Joe worked tirelessly on countless events at St. George Church, Worcester and to his day, they have continued to sponsor scholarships for young parishioners.
Together they became donors to the UMass Chan Medical School Heritage Society and for years, have provided scholarships for medical residents.

To eliminate financial barriers for family members, they launched the Cote Family Educational Trust, encouraging recipients to pursue and advance their educations.
Choirs from around the world found a loving home waiting when the Cote's hosted those who came here to perform at local churches and venues. Pat would even pack lunches and treats for each performer to be sure that they would never be hungry while away from her home. To be under her dedicated care was to know that she had every detail covered.

Patricia and Joe were co-founders of the St. John's Food Pantry, Worcester. They were major donors and participated in fundraising activities to support the opening the St. Francis Xavier Center.

Patricia Cote was a woman of God and was active in the life of St. George's parish. For as long as she was physically able, she participated in Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist.

And anyone who made it onto her prayer list ... felt divinely protected.
She leaves us with countless examples of humanity's most beautiful traits. Her gift to all who knew her is a masterful blueprint of how we should live our Christian lives.

She will be greatly missed but Heaven has gained a lovely, strong, and righteous angel.

Relatives and friends can visit with Pat's family from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday, June 20th at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden and again on Wednesday, June 21st from 9 to 11 AM at St. George's Church, 40 Brattle Street, Worcester, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM. Burial will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St John's Food Pantry, 44 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604.

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