Mary Louise Cole 1935-2021

Mrs. Cole was born Aug. 14, 1935, in West Middlesex, a daughter of Henrich Arvid and Vernie Kelley Hendrickson. She was salutatorian of her graduating class at WM High School. Mary Lou married Woodrow “Woody” H. Cole Jr. on June 15, 1956.

Mary Lou worked more than 30 years as a secretary in the West Middlesex Schools, where she mentored generations of students. After retirement, the Coles moved to The Villages in Florida before returning to Pennsylvania in 2014, living with their daughter, Elaine, and her husband, Alex, in Aliquippa.

Mary Lou was a member of the Lebanon Presbyterian Church in West Middlesex / Mercer, where she had been a member of the choir. She previously was a member of Community United Methodist Church in Fruitland Park, Fla., and most recently attended Riverdale Presbyterian Church in Moon Township.

She leaves four children and their spouses, Linda and Steve Levine of Austin, Texas; Rick and Beth Ann Cole of Austin, Texas; Ron and Theresa Cole of Hermitage; and Elaine and Alex Mitchell of Aliquippa, with whom she lived and who were her primary caretakers; a sister, Lois, and her husband, John Erb, of The Villages, Fla.; sister-in-law, Diane Hendrickson of Sharon; grandchildren, Lindsey, Nathan and Alex (Rachael) Levine, and Ethan (Marissa), Andrew and Sam Cole; Matthew (Sandra) Clune and Noah Cole; Eliot (Amanda) and Woody Hawk, and Liz Mitchell; and six great-grandchildren, Laney, Rylee, Sloane, Lucas, Camilla and Violet, and, the soon-to-be Remy Louise; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and a brother, John Hendrickson.

The family sends very special thanks to Mary Lou’s friend and caretaker of the past six years, Jan Grant.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family requests donations to be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at www.Parkinson.org.

Arrangements entrusted to Smith Funeral Home, West Middlesex.

(special notice)