Elizabeth "Libby" C. Cole

Elizabeth C. (Wade) Cole, age 95, of North Dighton and formerly of Swansea, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022 at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. She was the wife of the late Alton H. Cole, Sr.

Born and raised in Ipswich, she was the daughter of the late Alfred E. and Gladys (Burnham) Wade.

A graduate of Ipswich High School, Class of 1944, Elizabeth then graduated from Framingham State College in 1948 after obtaining her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She worked for two years as a Home Economics Teacher at Dighton High School before leaving teaching to raise her family.

Elizabeth, known to her friends as Libby, was a member of the Unitarian Church in Dighton, South Somerset Methodist Church, and the West Dighton Christian Church. While living in Swansea, Libby was an active member of the Friends of the Cardinals, a sports booster club at Joseph Case High School. An avid reader of newspapers and books, she also enjoyed watching birds feed from her window, which brought her great joy in her later years. Libby’s six children and 12 grandchildren were the focal point of her life. Her happiest times were spent with them, cooking, baking, spending the holidays together, and always laughing and joking. Her family will always treasure the joyous, carefree times at Lake Shirley in Lunenburg, and Lake Waukewan in Meredith, N.H., with Mom, lovingly known as “Gri” to many of her grandchildren, as the ringleader.

Libby is survived by six children, Alton Cole, Jr. and his wife Kathy of Brewster, Stephen Cole and his wife Lindy Gifford of Damariscotta, ME, Jeffrey Cole and his wife Lori Markusfeld of Wallingford, PA, Jonathan Cole of Williston, ND, Scott Cole of North Dighton, and Holly Casey and her husband Geoffrey of Norfolk; twelve grandchildren, Nathan, Kelsey, Phoebe, Eliza, Gabriel, Aidan, Emily, Patrick, Gregory, Reid, Katie and Molly, as well as several nieces and nephews. Libby was the sister of the late Emerson Wade and Winthrop Wade.

The family wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Charlton Memorial Hospital for the kindness and exceptional care they provided to Libby.

Her funeral services and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Libby’s honor may be made to The American Bird Conservancy, P.O. Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198 or by using its website https://abcbirds.org.