Margaret C Cole (better known as Carol) passed away peacefully on February 26th, 2024 at the age of 94, with family. She was born in Waukegan Illinois to Sarah (“Sadie”) E Helvie (nee Collins) and Raymond A Helvie. Carol and her husband Richard E Cole (also of Waukegan) married in 1949 and had three children. She worked as an Executive Secretary for Outboard Marine Corp in Waukegan. In 1962 the family moved to Naples Florida to be near her parents.

In Naples, Carol raised her three children, gardened, had a successful career as a Realtor, enjoyed tennis and her many good friends. She was widowed in 1992 and relocated with her also-widowed mother to Sumner, Washington. There she enjoyed living near her two daughters Barbara (who sadly pre-deceased her in 2015) and Nancy. She loved and laughed with her grandchildren Kristin, Erik, Brittany, Grant and Jacqueline. In Sumner, “Nana’s” home was a warm and welcoming place full of laughter, family gatherings, countless photos and endless “nibbles”. She enjoyed friends, volunteering at a local food pantry, hospital and historical society, playing tennis and cribbage, gardening, sharing her home-grown blueberries and taking a wise and compassionate interest in the lives of her many loved ones.

Carol was thankful to be able to live independently in her home in Sumner, nearly until the end of her life. Following heart failure she accepted that her full and long life was coming to an end and she spent her last days comforting those she loved, expressing her gratitude, and looking forward to meeting again those she had loved and lost.

Carol is survived by her son William R Cole of Hardwick MA and his wife Christine Greene; her daughter Nancy Cole of Sumner WA; her granddaughters Kristin Kocher and husband Matthew, Brittany Kirkpatrick and husband Tyler, Jacqueline Goddard and husband Nathan; and her grandson Grant Cole. She also is survived by seven great-grandchildren, each of whom was a special joy to her: Maren, Colter and Faye Margaret, Leif and Noemi, and Lucas and Lawson. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Elizabeth Cole and husband Peter Newman.

Mom, Nana, Baba will be dearly missed and remembered often. A private memorial service will be held by family this summer.