Jane K. Cote

SOUTH PORTLAND - Jane K. Cote, 91, of South Portland, passed away January 31, 2014 peacefully at her residence, following a brief illness. She was born July 10, 1922 in Evanston, Illinois, the daughter of Joseph and Natalie DuPlessis Kowalski. She attended Mount Saint Scholastica, a private catholic boarding school in Kansas, graduating in 1940. As a teenager, Jane enjoyed riding horses and playing the piano and was an avid athlete. She attended Mundelein College and then moved to White Plains, New York. In White Plains, she worked as an executive secretary for Row, Peterson and Company. This is where she met her husband Eugene D. Cote. She saw his photo and resume in amongst others and moved his to the top securing a job for him. Once married, Jane and Eugene relocated to South Portland, settled in and began raising her family. Jane was a daily communicant of St. John's Church. She was on the Women's Council and assisted at her church and later at Holy Cross as a Eucharistic Minister. She loved gardening and was a member of the Osewantha Garden Club. She was on a bowling team at the Big 20, playing well into her 91st year on the King Pins Team. Other interests included playing cards, Yahtzee, Scrabble. She loved animals, but most of all being surrounded by her numerous friends and family. Jane was predeceased by her parents; her brothers, Joseph "Buddy" Kowalski, Robert "Bob" Kowalski and her husband Eugene D. Cote, Sr. She is survived by her five children; David Cote, Natalie Henry and her husband Rob, Kathryn "Kathy" Brooks and her husband Greg, Eugene "Buddy" Cote, III and wife Lisa, William "Bill" Cote and wife Patty; her grandchildren, John, Peter and Jennifer Anthony, Ashley Brooks, Shannon Williamson, Marguax, Hannah and Eliza Cote, Andrea and Kyle Cote; great-grandchildren, Kyle Cushman, Dakota Tompkins and Jacob McClory; and her precious cat, Coco. Her loved ones will miss her dearly, but take comfort in knowing that Jane is now in the loving arms of her Savior. Visiting hours will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, February 3, 2014 at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Prayers will be recited 10:15 a.m., Tuesday, at the chapel, followed by an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.In lieu of flowers, these are some of the causes near and dear to Jane Cote's heart: VNA Home Health Hospice50 Foden Road, Suite 3So. Portland, Me. 04106(207)780-8624 Animal Refuge League449 Stroudwater StreetWestbrook, Me. 04092(207)854-9771 "Matthew Rairdon Scholarship Fund" at Evergreen Credit Unionc/o Pauline CampbellP.O. Box 1038Portland, Me. 04104-1038Online condolences may be expressed below.