Deborah Lee Cole

Greenville

Deborah Lee Himelein Cole died Friday, May 1, 2015, at her home in Greenville. She was 62.

Born May 19, 1952, in Gowanda, NY, Deborah graduated from Boston University in 1974, earned a master’s degree from the University of Miami in 1978, and received a degree in physical therapy from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in 1995.

Always dedicated to her work, following her undergraduate degree she was employed as a social worker at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY, and following her master’s degree, she served as a recreation therapist at hospitals in Miami, FL, and Anderson, SC. After graduating from MUSC, she began her physical therapy career at St. Francis Hospital in Greenville, where she worked until 2014, departing for medical reasons.

Deborah was known to friends and family as someone who lived life to the fullest. Her travels included a 4-month sailing trip from Buffalo to Miami, a 2-month backpacking trip across Europe, and a 9-month camping trip across the United States with her husband, Michael Cole.

A dedicated runner, she completed 20 marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2004. She was an avid reader and accomplished cross-stitcher.

Deborah and Michael would have celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary this summer.

She is also survived by their son, Matthew Alexander Cole, along with her four siblings: Larry Himelein of Gowanda, NY; Neil Himelein of Wilmington, DE; Hans Himelein of Elizabethtown, NY; and Melissa Himelein of Asheville, NC.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:30 PM Sunday, May 10, in the Reception Hall of The Mackey Mortuary.

A memorial service will be at 3:30 PM, following the visitation in the Reception Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to National Jewish Health (nationaljewish.org), a medical research facility specializing in the treatment of respiratory disorders, or to the St. Francis Foundation (stfrancisfoundation.com).

Condolences may be expressed online at www.mackeymortuary.com

The Mackey Mortuary