Shrewsbury – Raymond D. “Ray” Cote, 85, longtime Shrewsbury resident, died peacefully on Thursday, June 13, 2024 with his loving family by his side.
Ray was born in Laconia, New Hampshire on July 29, 1938 son of Maurice and Rose Anna (Chabot) Cote. He was educated at Assumption Prep School in Worcester graduating with the Class of 1955, then staying a few years at the College before he entered the Order of the Augustinians of the Assumption as Brother Raymond AA in Saugerties, New York. After eight years of discernment, he decided to join secular life.
He moved back to Worcester in 1964 and started taking night classes and working towards being a journeyman electrician. In early 1967, he met a lovely woman by the name of Susan M. Hayne, who would become his bride on the beautiful day of October 14, 1967 at Our Lady of Immaculate Church in Athol. He and Susan started their family and moved to Shrewsbury in 1969.
After a long career as an electrician, working for several companies in the Worcester County area he retired from Ostrow Electric in Worcester in 1999.
In his free time, Ray enjoyed gardening, as well as tending to the continuous yard work around the family home. He loved traveling especially internationally with Susan and several other couples. While traveling abroad with Bishop Reilly he was honored to serve Mass with the Bishop at the Chapel in the Normandy American Cemetery in Normandy, France. Ray was a die-hard New England Sports fan enjoying watching all the teams. He was devout member of Saint Mary’s Parish in Shrewsbury where he was a Eucharistic Minister and also served the Thursday 8:30 morning Mass for many years. Ray was a member of Greendale Retired Men’s Club; the Senior Men’s Club in Shrewsbury and was proud member of IBEW Local 96 for over 50 years.
He leaves his loving wife of almost 56 years, Susan M. (Hayne) Cote; a son, Douglas R. Cote of Worcester; a daughter, Carolyn A. Medina and her husband Jonathan of Paxton; two grandchildren, Christopher B. Cote (Shantavia) and Cody J. Medina; four great grandchildren, Alexis, Da’Siya, Cainen and Christopher; a brother, William Cote and his wife Joyce of New Hampshire; also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a son, Christopher in 2009 as well as his parents and siblings, Victor, Ronald, Maurice and Lorraine.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Mary’s Church, 20 Summer Street, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the Cote family between 9:00 and 10:30 AM on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at the BRITTON-SHREWSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 648 Main Street, Shrewsbury. His funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 AM at St. Mary’s Church, 640 Main Street, Shrewsbury.
