Obituary of Violet "Vi" Cole

Violet “Vi” Cole, 97, of Cortland, NY, formerly of Woodhull, passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at the Cortland Regional Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Cortland.

Vi was born in Coventry, England on May 26, 1919, the daughter of Alick and Elizabeth Huffer Watts Gardner. She grew up in England and lived through the horrors of World War II in Europe. She met a young US serviceman during this time and she eventually came to the United States where she and Francis D. Cole were married on June 28, 1947 in Whitesville, NY.

Vi and Francis settled in Woodhull where he became the supervisor of the Consolidated Natural Gas compressor station in Woodhull. They lived on the grounds of the plant where they reared their only child, David. Vi was a homemaker and was very involved in affairs of the Woodhull United Methodist Church. She was a long time receptionist at the MacDonald Health Center in Woodhull.  She and Francis were also members of the Woodhull Community Friends senior citizen group. They were great parents to David and encouraged him and involved themselves in his many school activities.

Following Francis’ retirement, they built a new home on Church Hill Road in Woodhull. On Nov. 28, 1997, Francis died there and Vi soon moved to Cortland to be near David and his family. While living there, she attended Christ Presbyterian Church there and was a member of the Cortland Senior Citizens.

On Dec. 2, 2002, her son David died very suddenly at home. Vi was also preceded in death by her siblings in England.

Vi is survived by her daughter in law, Kathy Cole and her grandchildren, Elizabeth Cole and Alec Cole, all of Cortland, along with a few nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 28 at 1 PM at the Woodhull United Methodist Church with Pastor Brian Diffenbacher officiating.

Burial will be in Woodhull Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the MacDonald Health Center, 1585 Academy St. Woodhull, NY 14898 or the Woodhull United Methodist Church, c/o Joyce Allington, 1856 Cty. Rte. 102, Woodhull, NY 14898.