Patricia A. Cole

1928 - 2021

Patricia A. Cole

OLEAN - Patricia A. Zerby Cole, of Olean, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday (July 6, 2021).

Born at the Mountain Clinic Hospital, in Olean, on Sept. 30, 1928, she was the daughter of Ralph R. and Anna V. Henry Zerby. On Jan. 6, 1947, in Portville, she married Robert G. Cole, her life-long friend, who became her loving husband and father to her children. He predeceased her Sept. 6, 1998.

Patricia attended St. Mary of the Angels Parochial School, and graduated from Olean High School, in 1946.

She was first employed as a secretary at St. Bonaventure University for many years. In 1967, she and her husband opened Cole's Custom Carpets, later known as Cole's Interiors.

Her 51-year marriage, and subsequent raising of her family, were central to her life that was further enriched by many enduring friendships, some for over 70 years.

She had a strong commitment to community service and was involved with the PTA as its president, and Campfire Girls when her children were young.

She was a lifelong parishioner of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, and served as chairman of the Bishops Committee for Christian Home and Family. She was also on the board of the American Heart Association and volunteered for the Olean General Hospital Auxiliary.

She is survived by three daughters, Linda (Jeffrey) Simms of Allegany, Susan Grosse of Olean, and Diana Folland of Ormond Beach, Fla. Her greatest joy and proudest accomplishment was in raising her children to be loving and caring adults. She loved and enjoyed her grandchildren, Gregory S. Simms, Christopher Cole Simms, J. Michael Simms, D. Joshua Folland and Trisha Ann Stone; and her great-grandchildren, Jessica Simms, Rachael Simms, Andrew Simms, Nathaniel Simms, Jacob Simms, Anna Simms, Gemma Simms, Christian Simms, Ethan Simms, Isa Simms, Lily Georgia, Decker Folland and Zoey Stone.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by two sons-in-law, David Folland in 1997 and David Grosse in 2017.

A memorial mass at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels is being planned for a future date and will be announced. A private burial ceremony was held at St. Bonaventure Cemetery, where she was interred next to her husband.

Memorials if desired, may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or stjude.org/memorial, or to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, 202 S. Union St., Olean, NY 14760.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.

Online condolences may be expressed at oleanfuneralhome.com.