Nancy M. Cote

HOLDEN: Nancy Elizabeth (May) Cote, 73, a long-time resident of Holden, died peacefully on September 17th at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. She was a dedicated wife of 44 years to her husband Joseph L. Cote, who passed away on May 12th. She leaves behind a daughter, Alethea May Cote Dorgan and her wife, Gennifer Irene of Worcester, as well as two brothers, S. Judson May of Plano, TX., and James M. May of Mililani, HI.

Born in Worcester, Nancy was the daughter of Herbert S. & JoAnn M. May. She was a 1969 graduate of Wachusett Regional High School. She later graduated from Nichols College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. While at Nichols College she received the Zeta Alpha Phi trophy for academic excellence and graduated cum laude. She was a bookkeeper and payables clerk throughout much of her career, working at the Stoneleigh-Burnham School, Alden Research Laboratory in Holden, the New England Envelope Company in Worcester, and eventually retiring from the New England Center for Children in Southborough.

Nancy enjoyed cross-stitching and embroidery, painting-by-numbers, working on jigsaw puzzles, feeding the squirrels and birds in her back yard, and vacationing in the Berkshire Mountains where she loved to feed the deer. She also had a life-long love of horses.

Nancy inherited a love of music from her mother JoAnn, and was a gifted pianist, accompanist and choir director, following in her mother's footsteps. She founded, accompanied and directed a children's choir, "Kids of the Kingdom," at her local church in Holden. She also played the piano frequently at church services.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 19th, 11AM, at the Leicester Unitarian Church, 5 Washburn Sq., in Leicester, followed by a reception at the Leicester Congregational Church, next door. She will be laid to rest in a brief family service at Pine Grove Cemetery in Leicester. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leicester Unitarian Church, 5 Washburn Sq., Leicester, MA 01524, or the First Congregational Church of Leicester, 1 Washburn Sq., Leicester, MA 01524. The MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 1131 Main St. in Leicester, is assisting the family with arrangements.