STANDISH- Elizabeth “Betty” Cook, 93, passed away Thursday evening, November 7th 2024 at Seaside Healthcare in
Portland Maine.
Born on November 4th, 1931 to John and Elizabeth Kane, Betty grew up in the West End neighborhood
of Portland with her 4 sisters. Her father passed when she was a young teen, leaving her Mother to raise
the 5 girls on her own. This likely formed the strong independence that Betty showed all of her life.
At Portland High Betty met her future husband of 48 years Alan Cook through mutual friends. Double
dates, school dances and going to the movies were favorite activities.
After school Betty worked at Rines Brothers Company Department Store on Congress St in the shoe
department. She would later get a job at New England Telephone & Telegraph Company on Forest Ave.
Decades after that job she could still tell you what which plugs went to what panel and how the
numbers were identified.
In 1953 Alan graduated Bowdoin College and he and Betty were married. The following year Alan left
for the service, and their oldest child was born. While Alan served his 2 years in the Army, Betty worked
at the phone company and raised her daughter alone, aided by her mother.
After Alan returned from the service, their uninterrupted life together kicked off. Alan continued his
education at Harvard while Betty continued to support him. A teaching job at Standish High School
brought them to live in Gorham, and then to Standish when the High School moved to Buxton, at the
location of the current Bonny Eagle Middle School. Standish became their new home, and they would
never move except to carry their belongings literally across the street to the new house they built and
lived in for the rest of their days.
As was the tradition of the day, Betty took care of the house while Alan worked. They raised 4 children,
Debra, David, John and Bill, with Betty doing the bulk of the raising. Betty always took pride in
maintaining a clean house, even up to her last years at home.
After Alan retired from his career at Bonny Eagle High School, Betty TOOK a job at Bonny Eagle High
School!
Coincidence?
As an Education Tech/Clerical Aid Betty was responsible for multiple tasks, and enjoyed all of them. In
April of 1995 she was recognized as the M.S.A.D 6 Support Person for April, after having been there 9
years.
She eventually retired from her job to be caretaker to her ailing husband until his passing.
Betty began to adjust to her life without Alan, and found enjoyment by going on day trips with others
her age, who SHE would refer to as “the old folks.”
Her time alone at home was then interrupted when her oldest son was diagnosed with cancer, and she
didn’t hesitate to have him move back home where she, again, served as a mother and caregiver, never
once complaining.
After her son’s passing, Betty forged ahead. She proudly lived independently in her house until the age
of 89, doing yard work at her own pace; shoveling her driveway; keeping her house well kept and going
up and down the stairs in the house multiple times a day. Something she was always proud to brag
about.
In her life Betty enjoyed trips to the seacoast, traveling to visit colleges and universities with Alan, trips
to Las Vegas, knitting and spending time with her grandchildren. And there wasn’t a lobster or crab or
Tony’s Donuts Cream Horn that ever escaped her.
Betty is predeceased by her parents John and Elizabeth Kane; her four sisters Dorothy Tuttle, Barbara
Steffe, Louise Cady and Nancy Kane; her husband Alan Cook; her son David Cook and her Son-In-Law
David Hubbard
Betty is survived by her children Debra Hubbard of Standish, John and wife Rhonda Cook of Groveville,
Bill Cook of Buxton, and multiple cousins, nieces and nephews and her legacy of 6 Grandchildren and 9
Great Grandchildren.
Visitation will be on Friday November 22, 2024 between the hours of 3:00pm and 5:00pm at Chad
Poitras Funeral Home 498 Long Plains Rd, Buxton Maine.
At Betty’s request, in lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the National Kidney Foundation.
www.kidney.org/offices/nkf-serving-new-england
Visiting hours will be held on Friday Nov. 22nd from 3 - 5 PM at the Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel, 498 Long Plains Road (Rt. 22) in Buxton.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras Funeral Homes, www.mainefuneral.com