Florence T. (St. Laurent) Cole
of Lynn
Florence T. (St. Laurent) Cole, 87, of Lynn and formerly of Rockport, died Jan. 17 after a lengthy illness. She was the beloved wife of the late George L. Cole, her husband of 67 years who predeceased her by one week.
Born in Lynn, she was the daughter of the late Alfred W. St. Laurent and Florilda M. (Simard) St. Laurent. She was the sister of the late Jeanette (St. Laurent) Flattery and Armand J. St. Laurent. Floss, as she was often called, grew up in Lynn and was a 1944 graduate of St. Mary’s Girls High School and a graduate of the Fay Secretarial School of Boston.
During World War II, when her husband was stationed at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Hawthorne, Nev., she accompanied him and served as the private secretary to the base commander. After returning to Lynn, she worked as a funeral director’s assistant and a teacher’s aide in Lynn Public Schools.
Mrs. Cole was a loving, selfless and compassionate woman with great inner strength. She was a joy to her friends and took great pride in following the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren, who knew her affectionately as Nana. She met her husband, George, at Fisherman’s Beach in Swampscott in 1942, when both were teenagers. Thus began a beautiful partnership, filled with love, that lasted for 72 years. Along with Mr. Cole, she enjoyed cross-country skiing, square dancing, listening to music, motor-home trips to Florida, and the love and companionship of her family. She was a communicant at St. Mary’s Church in Lynn, and an active member of several church organizations.
Mrs. Cole is survived by a daughter, Helen Wasco, and her husband, Dr. James Wasco, of Boxford; and three sons: Thomas A. Cole and his wife, Susan (Bryant), of West Peabody; Michael J. Cole and his wife, Sharleen (Gibney), of Lynn; and Stephen P. Cole and his husband, David Grossman, of Huntington Beach, Calif. She also leaves seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Her funeral will be Tuesday from the St. Laurent Funeral Home, 554 Western Ave., Lynn. Visitation is from 8:30-9:30 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church, 8 South Common St., Lynn, at 10 a.m.. Burial will be private.
The family thanks the staff of the Abbott House Nursing Home in Lynn for their kindness and compassionate care, and St. Jude, whom the family believes looked after her during difficult times. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s High School, 35 Tremont St., Lynn 01902.
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George L. Cole
of Lynn
George L. Cole, 87, of Lynn and formerly of Rockport, died Jan. 10, 2014. He was the husband of Florence (St. Laurent) Cole.
Mr. Cole was Assistant Clerk of Lynn District Court for 15 years, until 1981, when he was appointed by Gov. Edward J. King as Clerk Magistrate of Gloucester District Court, where he served until his retirement in 1989. As a long-time member and chairman of the Lynn Park Commission, he led the transformation of the former Happy Valley Golf Course into the current Larry Gannon Municipal Golf Course. He also served on the Lynn Licensing Board from 1996-2007.
Born in Lynn, he was the son of the late George and Mary (Casey) Cole. He was a 1944 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, where he was co-captain of the basketball team and a class officer. He attended Tufts University, the New England Institute of Anatomy and Embalming, and Suffolk University Law School. Mr. Cole was the nephew of the late Clerk of Courts Joseph Cole, City Solicitor Edwin Casey, and Lynn Mayor Albert Cole.
A naval gunner’s mate in World War II, he returned to Lynn where he served as a firefighter and was the owner of the Donovan and Cole Funeral Home.
Mr. Cole was an avid and accomplished golfer who could be found regularly with family and friends at Gannon, where he carded a hole-in-one at the age of 73. Along with his dear wife Florence, he enjoyed cross-country skiing, square dancing, motor-home trips to Florida, and the love and companionship of his family. He was a communicant at St. Mary’s Church in Lynn; a member of many organizations, including the Knights of Columbus and Connery American Legion Post 6; and was active in Lynn Shore Little League.
Mr. Cole is survived by his wife, Florence, of Lynn; a daughter, Helen Wasco, and her husband, Dr. James Wasco, of Boxford; and three sons — Thomas A. Cole and his wife, Susan (Bryant), of West Peabody; Michael J. Cole and his wife, Sharleen (Gibney), of Lynn; and Stephen P. Cole and his husband, David Grossman, of Huntington Beach, CA. He also leaves seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren .
His funeral will be Thursday from the St. Laurent Funeral Home, 554 Western Ave., Lynn. Visitation is from 8:30-9:30 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Church, 8 South Common St., Lynn, at 10:30. Burial will be private.
The family thanks the staff of the Abbott House Nursing Home in Lynn for their kindness and compassionate care during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s High School, 35 Tremont St., Lynn 01902.