MAY P. COLE

AKWESASNE – May P. Cole, 91, of 274 St. Regis Road, passed away Tuesday morning, February 23, 2016, at Tsiionkwanonhso:te, Cornwall Island Long Term Care Facility, where she had been a resident since May 2015.

May was born May 10, 1924, on Cornwall Island, ON, daughter of the late Elijah and Agnes Jacobs Benedict. She attended schools on Cornwall Island and in Cornwall. She married Thomas Cole at the St. Regis Catholic Church in 1947 with Rev. Michael Jacobs officiating. Thomas predeceased her on July 20, 2001.

May was proud of being a Bear Clan member. She was also a member of the Hogansburg Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir, the Mohawk Singers, the Hogansburg Senior Citizens, the Akwesasne Death Benefits Group, and the American Legion Auxiliary where she served as their first president.

She was a homemaker, assisting on the family farms early in life, going on to drive school bus for Twin Rivers, and later for Massena. She also worked and retired from the SRMT Medical Clinic. She enjoyed playing cards, bingo, and visiting with family.

She is survived by one daughter and seven sons, Dennis and Natalie Cole of Michigan; Thomas Wayne and Lynn Cole of Akwesasne; Jefferey Alex and Dale "Cookie" Cole of Akwesasne; Harris and Donna Cole of Akwesasne; David "Brian" Cole of Kentucky; Maxine Cole of Cornwall Island, Ontario; Stephen and Laura Benedict of Akwesasne; Sam and Heather Benedict of Bombay; a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Benedict of Cornwall Island; 24 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; her sisters, Margaret Rhodes, Syracuse; Esther and James Thompson of Cornwall Island; Helen Benedict of Cornwall Island; and Betty David of Cornwall Island; and her brother Charles "Buster" and Pat Benedict of Cornwall Island; and many nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband Thomas, May was predeceased by a son, Edwin Benedict on December 9, 2004; a grandson, Cody C. Cole on December 28, 1988; three brothers, Morris E. Benedict on September 3, 1967; Winston C. Benedict on April 11, 1990; Robert L. Benedict on January 21, 2012; and a sister, Charleen Cole on July 1, 2013.

Friends may call at the family home beginning Thursday, at 12 noon until 12 noon Friday. A funeral service will be held at the Hogansburg Methodist Church, Friday at 1:00 PM with Rev. Don Alexander officiating.

Memorial gifts may be made in May's memory to the Akwesasne Freedom School.

Arrangements are with the Donaldson Funeral Home, where memories and condolences may be shared online at http://www.donaldsonfh.com.