Joseph A. COTE

CHICOPEE – Joseph A. Cote, 88, formerly of the Arbors on Memorial Drive in Chicopee was Called Safely Home on Monday April 11, 2005. He began his career working for the General Electric Corporation at the former Springfield Armory and later transferred to Oklahoma City where he worked for the Honeywell Corporation. He returned to the area and was last employed as a machinist for the Magnet Corporation in Easthampton and retired in 1979. He was born in Montague, Massachusetts on March 30, 1917 a son of the late Joseph Peter Cote and Parmelia (Verville) Cote. His mother died shortly after he was born and he was raised by the late Robert G. and Celina Ragotzkie. He moved to Chicopee at an early age and graduated from the Kirby School. He later lived in the Willimansett and Fairview sections of Chicopee before moving to Arizona. He returned to Massachusetts in 1985 residing at Phin's Hill Manor in Granby and later moved to the Arbors in Chicopee. He was a communicant of Saint Rose de Lima Church in Aldenville. He was a charter member of the Chicopee Lodge of Elks 1849 since 1952 and a former member of the Knights of Columbus Elder Council 69 on Granby Road in Chicopee. One of his proudest achievements during his lifetime, was to have donated 43 gallons of blood to the Red Cross and Holyoke Hospital. His beloved wife of 63 years, Cecile R. (St. Sauveur) Cote was Called Home on February 13, 2004. They were married at the former Precious Blood Church in Holyoke on May 4, 1940. He leaves his loving children, Rita Starzyk and her husband Edwin Weaver of South Hadley, Loraine A. Neveu and her husband Roger of Granby, Robert G. Cote and his wife Donna of Willimansett, Edward P. Cote and his wife Anne of South Hadley and Pamela D. Plouffe and her husband Daniel of Fairview. He also leaves 19 grandchildren, 43 great grandchildren and many dear nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his dear sisters and brother, Beatrice (Cote) Bordeaux, Peter J. Cote, Pauline (Cote) deBlois and Mary Teresa Cote. His funeral will be held Monday morning April 18, 2005 at 9:15 a.m. from the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, 13 Dale Street at the junction of Grattan Street in Chicopee followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in Saint Rose de Lima Church, 600 Grattan Street in Aldenville. His burial will follow the Mass at Saint Rose Cemetery on Olsen Street in Aldenville. His family will receive friends at the funeral home in the Rose Chapel on Sunday April 17, 2005 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The parking lot and main entrance are located in the rear of the funeral home off of Lafayette Street. For those who prefer to make a memorial donation, they may be made in his memory to the Mater Dolorosa School Endowment Fund, 71 Maple Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 or to the Holyoke Catholic High School Building Fund, 66 School Street, Granby, MA 01033.