Norma B. Cole

NORMA (BERNSTEIN) COLE, 82, of Hingham and Chatham, died Tuesday, Sept. 26th at the Tippett Hospice Home in Needham after a long struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Norma Priscilla Bernstein was born on July 13th, 1924, daughter of Benno and Elsie (Anderson) Bernstein of Prospect St., Hingham. As a child, Norma loved riding horses at her family's riding stable. Norma's favorite horse was named Coal. During high school, she was the batonist leading the Hingham High School band. During this time she met and fell in love with Herb Cole. At age 18, Norma and Herb eloped and were married in Chatham, on Cape Cod. Within a year Herb would be fighting in WW II and Norma would be home, holding down the fort and enjoying their first child. When Herb returned from the war they purchased their home on East St. in Hingham and raised their three children; Herbert A. Cole, IV now of Norwell, Nancy Cole Rugman of Pembroke and Amy Cole of Olga, Washington. As a family, they cared for many beloved animals. For many years Norma was involved as president of the Hingham PTA, and as the children grew, she became active in the Hingham Garden Club and the Hingham Historical Society. She loved cooking, swimming, walking, and working on her home and yard in both Hingham and Chatham. Norma was a sweet and loving woman. She adored her husband and family and deeply cared for her friends and those less fortunate. Many remember Norma dropping off her homemade pea soup at their back door. She will be dearly missed by all whose lives she touched. She was the wife of the late Herbert A. Cole, III, and in addition to her three children, is also survived by her two sisters, Elizabeth Sharp of Florida and Nancy Katzman of California, 10 grandchildren and one great grandchild. A Memorial Service will be conducted on Saturday, Oct. 7th at 2 PM at the Second Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 685 Main St. (Rt. 228), Hingham. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association (MA Chapter), 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472 (www.alzmas.org) The interment is to be private.

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