Lenora Grace Cote

Lenora Grace Cote (Colby) passed away at home surrounded by family on April 10th, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 44.

Lenora was born in Lincoln, Maine on March 23rd, 1980. The youngest child of Dana and Sandra (Hope) Colby, she grew up in Gardiner, Maine and always embraced the closeness of family. Although she was the youngest sister, she was definitely the boss. She enjoyed keeping everyone organized, hosting them, and doing all the planning. These Lenora trademarks not only led her home, they also guided her education and career. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a degree in communication and worked many years (alongside her work family) at HealthcareSource and then at Zipari as a Support Specialist.

In 2005, Lenora married the love of her life, Bryan Cote. She took great pride in their nineteen years of marriage and adored the life that they built together. In her final months especially, he provided her with amazing care and she was immensely grateful for it (but she wasn't at all surprised). Lenora had always known that his steadfast devotion and companionship was everything she could ever wish for and she raved often about just how lucky she was to have him.

Family was so very important to Lenora. Her children, Joely and Finnegan, made up the entirety of her world. She loved making memories with them at Great Wolf Lodge, attending concerts with them (most recently attending the Eras Tour), and watching sporting events together. She was ALL in for the things she enjoyed, especially sports! A class of '98 Gardiner Area High School graduate, Lenora was an avid Tigers fan, and being able to watch Joely play for Gardiner was a dream come true.

Lenora loved to be home with a book, but she also loved to travel. She was happy anywhere as long as she was with her "people." Whether that took her to a castle in Ireland or to a local Business Casual gig, she always had a great time, especially in the company of "her girls". Lenora had a wealth of pop culture knowledge and was the one everyone wanted on their trivia team. She was the friend who would pick up the phone in the middle of the night and patiently deal with your emergency, or answer your ridiculous questions. She knew how to have a good time and to savor the sweetest moments in life. Loyal until the end, she loved fiercely and cherished every moment she had with those close to her and was able to conclude her beautiful life with absolutely "no regrets."

Lenora was predeceased by her parents Dana and Sandra (Hope) Colby, maternal grandparents Clyde and Madelene Shorey, and paternal grandparents Leon and Rowena Colby.

She leaves behind to treasure her memory her beloved husband Bryan Cote; her daughter Joely Cote and her son Finnegan Cote; her devoted sisters Barbara Chase and Donna Twist and her husband David ("Bub"). Her nieces Jacie Lash and Katelyn Chase and nephew Joel Twist (whom she loved like they were her siblings). She is also survived by father and mother in-law Albert and Diane Cote; mother in-law Stephanie Cote; brother and sisters in laws Sean Cote and his wife Amanda Cote; Deidre Pilcher; Warren Cote and his wife Wendy Cote; Serahna Bennett and her husband Jake Bennett; and Veronica Diket and her husband Jeffrey Diket as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and family too numerous to count, all of whom held special places in her heart.

A celebration of life to honor the legacy of Lenora will take place at The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kennebec Valley Sandra M. Prescott Clubhouse located at 14 Pray Street in Gardiner, Maine on Saturday, April 27th from 1:00-4:00 pm. We invite you to come and share your favorite memories and commemorate her very special life during this time.