Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Victor Cote Obituary
formerly of Lowell; 92
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL -- Victor H. Cote, a resident of New Smyrna Beach, FL, formerly of Lowell, passed away on Sunday February 3, 2013 at the Halifax Health Hospice. He was 92.
Victor was the beloved husband of Beulah I. (Gelineau) Cote, with whom he celebrated 67 years of marriage this past November.
He was born in Tewksbury on April 7, 1920, a son of the late Francis and Emma (Morin) Cote.
Victor was a veteran of WWII, having served in the Army Air Corps. Sgt. Cote survived the Death March and was held captive as a POW for 3 -- 1/2 -- years. He was held in Camp O'Donnel, Bilibid, and Camp 17 in Japan.
Upon his release as a POW, Victor returned to Lowell and served his city. He was a police officer from 1949 to 1952. He was a Lowell firefighter from 1952 until 1982. He retired as a Deputy Chief in January of 1982.
Victor was an avid Patriots fan, enjoyed playing golf and doing crossword puzzles.
Surviving him besides his wife are his four children, Karen Dubois and her husband Roger of Dracut, Warren Cote and his wife Laura of Edgewater, FL, Donna Stamp and her husband Albert of Tyngsboro, Bonnie Noel of New Smyrna Beach, FL; ten grandchildren, Chris St. Jean, Jonathan Dubois, Michael St. Jean, Thomas St. Jean, Jason Stamp, Nicole Finglas, Brooke Couto, Jennifer Stamp, Jessica Merodis, Brittany Cote; two sisters, Emma Mason of Biloxi, MS, Clair Campion of Ocala, FL; and several nieces and nephews. He was the grandfather of the late Shane Dubois and brother of the late Elie Cote, Ernest Cote, Arthur Cote, Rita Simonelli, Irene Decoveny, Rhea Matthieu, Dorothy Gerace, and Alfred Cote.
COTE -- Relatives and friends may call at the McKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 327 Hildreth Street from 3 until 7 PM on Thursday. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 10:00 AM in Holy Family Parish, 30 Grafton St., Lowell. Burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be made to Samuel Proctor Oral History Program, 241 Pugh Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611. For condolences and directions please visit www.mckennaouellette.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Victor Cote
Emma Mason
January 31, 2023
My wonderful brother enjoying a bike ride in the Philippines before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. My mother prayed for him every hour of every day when he was in the Prison Camps. It was such a joyous day when he came home in 1945. Victor is always here in my heart. This sister loves him dearly.
Emma mason
February 1, 2014
Beulah, Karen, Warren, Donna, Bonnie,
There is not a day goes by Vic is not in my heart.
As long as I am alive, all of you are here with me in my heart, just as Vic is with each and all of you that signed this guest book.
God Bless,
Emma (Cote) Mason
Paul Conlon
February 10, 2013
Vic you were a good friend to my Mom and Dad. My family appreciates that. RIP. you were a Good Jake.
Maurice Dumont
February 9, 2013
Dear Mrs. Cote and family,
I'm so sorry to hear of Mr. Cote's passing. He was a wonderful and extremely brave man, a true American Hero. I have many fond memories of him while I was growing up accross the fence from your back yard. I'll keep those memories forever. Stay strong for him. That, I'm sure is what he would want. God bless you.
How you can show support
Follow
Get email updates whenever changes are made.
Send flowers
Consider sending flowers.
Add photos
Share their life with photo memories.
Plant trees
Honor them by planting trees in their memory.
Donate in Memory
Make a donation in memory of your loved one.
Share this page
Invite other friends and family to visit the page.
Roland Noel
February 9, 2013
my sincere condolonces to you Beulah,Karen,Warren,Donna,Bonnie and grandchildren. He was a great man and you were blessed to have had him. It was a gift for me to have known him. Again my sincere condolonces to you ,his family.
Harry Dumont
February 8, 2013
Beulah, Karen, Donna, Warren, Bonnie; I'm sadden to hear of Vic's passing. My heartfelt condolences to you all. I'll always remember the wonderful times spent at your house (just a fence away). Vic was a gentle and kind soul. May he rest in peace. Harry Dumont
Linda Clarke
February 8, 2013
Aunt Beulah, my cousins Karen, Donna, Warren, Bonnie, and my Aunts, Claire and Emma,
Our hearts are in great sorrow!
Stephen and Karen Nelson
February 8, 2013
We were so sorry to hear of yours fathers passing. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Denise Schoen
February 8, 2013
Our deepest sympathy on the passing of my great-Uncle Victor. I did not know him well but my mother adored him and he was an American hero. May he rest in peace and may his family feel the prayers we are sending and the support we would give as if were with there with you in person.xxoo
Melissa Mitchell
February 8, 2013
So sorry to hear of Uncle Victor's passing. I know he meant so much to so many people and I am saddened that my kids didn't have a chance to meet him. May he rest in peace.
Elaine Gill
February 7, 2013
I remember all the good times in Mass. Riding the go karts. I will miss you, but know that you will be in a wonderful place and with your family. Love, Elaine & Russ
Rita laderoute
February 7, 2013
All my sympthy to all the cote famiely
MARIANNE LAMBERT
February 7, 2013
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I REMEMBER VISITING VICTOR WITH MY FATHER, HE WAS ALWAYS SO NICE TO ME, AND MY FAMILY. HE WAS A QUIET, AND RESPECTABLE MAN. HIS SIBLINGS, AND HIM, WERE ALWAYS WELCOME AT THE LAMBERT HOME. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT SYMPATHY TO THE WHOLE COTE FAMILY. COUSIN MARIANNE LAMBERT.
Emma Mason
February 7, 2013
Goodbye to our Cote family Patriarch! Your contribution to so many lives, the goodness of the human heart, you gave so much to so many.
Our Cote Matriarch, Rita (Cote) Brunson Simonello has been in Heaven with our parents and nine other siblings. She left us June 19, 2004.
Both of you have left the world a better place as. You set role models for all of the Cote siblings to emulate.
You shall be alive within my heart as long as it beats, and one day I will walk the lonesome road and be with all of you again, Beyond the Sunset.
Love,
Emma
Lori Gallo
February 6, 2013
Aunt Beulah,
I will always be thankful for the significant role Uncle Vic played in my childhood. Never did I know in those innocent years the depth of suffering he endured. How would I have known? I remember that he was always smiling and listening to the Red Sox on the radio. I am thankful to have known him.
Lori
Helen Caggiano
February 6, 2013
My sincere condolences to all of victors family.he was a great man.
I will always remember when my dad would go over his house to fix his tv when I was just a little girl.
He would reach in his pocket and pull out some change and hand it to me he would make a little girl very happy ,and I have never for got it.
May you rest in peace .
Love your cousin Helen Caggiano
Barbie Hogan (Cote)
February 6, 2013
I love that pic, it is a classic Cote face.
He had an amazing life. God Bless to all the family. I will be there tomorrow.
February 6, 2013
Can't help but note that we all carry that classic cote face.
Peace to all the family. He lived a long, eventful life and left a lasting legacy.
Barbie (Cote) Hogan
Constance ( Beaudoin) Mercier
February 6, 2013
Beulah May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Sue & Peter Noel
February 6, 2013
Donna & Al and the entire Cote family!
It has been a great honor knowing such a wonderful man. His generosity, courage and smile will be missed by all. Thank you sharing him with us.
May he rest in peace.
February 6, 2013
To the family of this amazing person, I am truly grateful to have been a part of his influence. I will never forget him. Deborah Hendrix, Samuel Proctor Oral History Program
Emma Mason
February 6, 2013
To My Beloved Beulah, Karen, Warren, Donna, Bonnie and all of Victor's extended large family,
Beulah, you promised me you will rally back and be strong again to enjoy your children, grandchildren, a d great grandchildren, etc. Victor wants you to be with them for many years to come, as he awaits you in Heaven. He is now with his Beloved Mother whom he cherished and took such good care of carrying her paralyzed body everywhere.
Victor was such a strong man and he was very generous with his love and kindness to me.
I will never forget his coming home to Tobey Road in 1945. He swooped me up at 13 years old like I was a featherweight, even after the trauma he survived.
Because of your husband and father Victor, our mother, father and several of his siblings had a comfortable home on Tobey Road, all made possible because he assigned his allotment pay to his mother! We so thank Victor even to this day.
Victor often came to my rescue both financially and emotionally. Both of you sheltered me and I graduated from high school while living with you in South Lowell. Thank both of you for that.
I am very happy I got to say goodbye to my handsome, clean shaven, very nice haircut, warm smooth skin at the Hospice in Port Orange, Florida.
Victor, even as you waited for The Lord to take you Beyond the Sunset, you were still our mother's very handsome 5th son, our family hero, and a wonderful husband, father. Etc.
Our hearts go out to all of you, but especially you Beulah as we need you for many years to come.
Thank you Victor, you were more than a Japanese survivor. You were the best of the best and loved by so many.
You are gone now, but very much alive within my Heart! I love you.
Please, all of you, accept my sincere condolences but do remember, he wants all of you to persevere and prosper.
Love from your sister and husband,
Emma (Dee) and Jim mason
Diane Fischler
February 6, 2013
I first became acquainted with Victor Cote when in 2008 I read his oral history from the World War II Collection of the University of Florida's Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. I read three other similar oral histories of ex-POWs held by the Japanese, and decided that we had the makings of a documentary about one of the darkest sides of war, based on these POWs' stories. My colleague Deborah Hendrix and I put together a movie titled "I Just Wanted to Live!" in which Victor and these three other ex-POWs, through those oral history recordings, recounted their ordeal, a nightmare that lasted for 3-1/2 years. The title of the film came from Victor's personal account of those years he was held as a POW. Victor somehow overcame those war years' horrific experiences and lingering memories, and went on to a rich and rewarding life in marriage, family, and work. He was a true survivor. My deepest sympathy goes to Beulah and the family. It was a privilege and honor to know Victor Cote.
Melissa Stamp
February 6, 2013
To all of Victor's Family:
I will remember Victor, fondly. He was a kind and gentle man. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of sorrow.
Showing 1 - 24 of 24 results
Make a Donation
in Victor Cote's name
Memorial Events
for Victor Cote
People and places connected with Victor
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
How to support Victor's loved ones
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Cope With Grief
Information and advice to help you cope with the death of someone important to you.
Read more
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreWays to honor Victor Cote's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
