Joseph L. Cote

Joseph Louis Cote, 97, passed away peacefully at his home on June 25th, surrounded by loved ones. Born and raised in Worcester, Joe was the eighth of nine children born to Arthur and Gertrude (St. Denis) Cote.

He is survived by his son, William Cote of Lowell; a granddaughter, Angela Cote of Webster; greatgranddaughters, Kaylee and Kaia Blain; several godchildren and generations of nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by Patricia (Breen) Cote, his wife of 69 years, and his son Joseph L. Cote Jr.; as well as all his siblings: brothers Arthur Jr., Frank, Richard, Oscar and Ernest, and sisters Viola Rathbun Marguerite Evarts, and Rita Halajko.

Joe’s father died suddenly when he was an infant, plunging the young family into years of poverty. Throughout the Great Depression, Joe and his siblings worked tirelessly to assist their mother in making ends meet. Joe was one of Worcester’s Shoe Shine Boys; a role he and others would be celebrated for decades later. Joe enlisted in the Marines near the end of WWII, following four of his brothers who were already serving in different theaters of the war. Later trained as a machinist, he spent most of his career at The Wyman-Gordon Co. where he was a member of the United Steelworkers of America and would also serve as the Civil Rights Coordinator during times of change in the country.

In his free time, he made prudent investments, and he and Patricia worked together to attain the financial position they would later use to propel others in need. He retired early from Wyman-Gordon for medical reasons and spent his retired years in support of many organizations and causes to which he devoted his time and resources. Among them were the Mercy Centre, Friendly House, Greendale Retired Men's Club, St. George’s Men’s Club First Friday Club, the Marine Corps League, the Emerald Club, the Elks, the Assembly of the Alhambra and the Knights of Columbus (4th degree – Bishop O’Reilly’s Assembly, 3rd degree – Pope John XXIII’s Council). Together, Joe and Patricia became members of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He and Pat worked tirelessly on many events at St. George’s Church in Worcester, and sponsored scholarships for young parishioners. They were honored for devotion to their faith and for sharing time and talents in service to the church community. Together they became donors to the UMass Chan Medical School Heritage Society and provided scholarships for medical residents. To eliminate financial barriers for family members, they launched the Cote Family Educational Trust, encouraging recipients to pursue and advance their education. Joe and Patricia were consistent supporters of St. John’s Food for the Poor in Worcester and among the original generous benefactors to the building of the St. Francis Xavier Center.

Joe’s legacy is one of rising from humble beginnings, followed by selfless giving to encourage others to do the same. He leaves those of us who knew him with countless examples of how to be the best we can be, and a masterful blueprint of how to live a Christian life.

He will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his extended family and friends. Relatives and friends can visit with Joe’s family from 6 to 8 PM on Friday July 11th at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden and again on Saturday July 12th from 9 to 10 AM at St. George’s Church, 40 Brattle Street, Worcester, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or St John’s Food for the Poor, 44 Temple Street, Worcester, MA 01604.

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