SANFORD — Gertrude L. Cote, 93, of Sanford, died on Monday, Oct. 23, 2017 at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford.

Gertrude was born on July 9, 1924 to Dorvede and Yvonne (Ouellette) L’Abbe in Sanford where she grew up and attended local schools. In 1945 she married Roger H. Cote and together they raised three children and shared 56 years of marriage until his death in 2001.

During her working life Gertrude was employed at Roger’s Supa Dolla, as the kitchen manager for the Sanford school lunch program at the Memorial Gym and at First National Grocery Store in Sanford. She enjoyed cooking, knitting, cross stitching, camping, fishing and spending time with her family and friends.

She was a devout Catholic and had been a communicant of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish and a member of the Ladies of St. Anne. She was a caring and devoted mother and grandmother and always put the needs of her family before her own. She will be dearly missed.

Gertrude was predeceased by her husband, Roger H. Cote, Her daughter, Arline Guertin and her son-in-law, Roland Guertin.

Surviving are two children, Joanne Bedard and her husband Les of Springvale and Danny Cote of Sanford; four grandchildren, David Guertin and his wife Sandy of Sanford, Christine Bedard of Springvale, Erin Stuart and her husband Steve of Waterboro and Danielle Cote of Sanford and one great-grandchild on the way.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, located on North Avenue in Sanford. Interment will follow at St. Ignatius Cemetery.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending a memorial contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org.

Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.

To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.