AUBURN- Irene T. (Pion) Cole, 71, of 33 Curtis Street, Auburn, a retired administrator at the College of the Holy Cross, died Sunday, February 16, 2003 at home after more than a two year struggle with pancreatic cancer.
She leaves her husband of 48 years, Frank J. Cole; two daughters, Mary Beth Curnen of Auburn and Judith I. Jones of Nashua, N.H. ; three sons, Frank J. Cole III of Worcester, Michael A. Cole of Westford, Thomas F.X. Cole of Worcester; three brothers, Francis G. Pion of Holyoke, Raymond J. Pion of Chicopee, Robert A. Pion of Ludlow; one sister, Claire M. Ryan of Castleton-on-Hudson, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Cole was born in Chicopee, daughter of the late Francis X and Armande (Charpentier) Pion, and later lived in South Hadley for many years before moving to Auburn 35 years ago. She was a graduate of Holy Name High School in Chicopee.
Mrs. Cole worked as Holy Cross College for 24 years, the last 16 years as administrative assistant to the dean of the college. She was a fixture on the campus and delighted in helping students, faculty and staff, and was featured in an interview in the college's alumni magazine at her retirement in 1998. Before raising her family, she was a research librarian at Monsanto Chemical Co. in Springfield.
Mrs. Cole was a member of North American Martyr's Parish in Auburn,and was past president of it's Women's Club. She loved to visit Cape Cod and was an expert seamstress and had become a skilled quilter. More than anything else, she loved to care for her family, especially "the little one's, " for each of whom she made a quilt during her long illness.
Mrs. Cole's funeral will be held on Thursday, February 20, 2003 from the Britton-Wallace Funeral Home, (brittonfuneralhomes.com) 91 Central Street, Auburn, with a funeral Mass at 10 A.M. at North American Martyr's Church , 8 Wyoma Drive, Auburn. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Auburn. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2003 from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. in the funeral home. Please omit flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Cross Art Acquisition Fund, One College Street, Worcester, MA 01610