BELGRADE – Elizabeth “Betty” R. Cole, 72, passed away peacefully at her home on Feb. 3, 2024, with her loving family at her side. She was born in Gardiner on July 26, 1951, to the late Wilfred Labbe and Verna (Rich) Jenney.

Betty was married to Edward F. Cole of Belgrade for 36 years until his passing in 2009. Together they enjoyed traveling, fishing, gardening, and their four grandchildren.

Betty attended Hall-Dale, Belgrade Central, and Williams High Schools. Following high school, she worked at Statler Tissue, was a bank teller and then eventually worked as a clerk in the Belgrade and Waterville post offices. In 1988 she became the Postmaster of the Belgrade Post Office where she happily retired in 2009 after serving 21 years. During her time as postmaster, Betty received several service awards and was very active in the National League of Postmasters, holding several executive positions and attending many conferences both at the state and national levels.

Betty was a long-time resident of Belgrade. In her earlier years, she volunteered her time as a cub scout den mother and as the treasurer for the Belgrade Recreation Association. She also kept the scorebook for her son’s baseball teams and coached her daughter’s softball teams.

In later years, she deeply enjoyed time spent with her grandchildren, including attending their sporting events, even those softball games on cold spring days! Betty loved to travel and visited many places throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as a recent trip to the Dominican Republic to celebrate her son’s thirtieth wedding anniversary.

She was also very crafty and often sewed clothing for her children when they were growing up and Halloween costumes for her grandkids. She enjoyed reading, gardening, scrapbooking, quilting, doing puzzles, and diamond dotz kits. Betty also loved lobster and her annual birthday trips to Youngs Lobster Pound and the Boothbay Lobster Warf. She was steeped in family traditions and every Thanksgiving weekend could be seen Christmas shopping with her family. She was an avid fan of Conway Twitty, “Gone with the Wind”, Gettysburg, and the “Outlander” book and television series.

In addition to her husband, Betty was predeceased by her parents Wilfred Labbe and Verna (Rich) Jenney, her stepfather, Douglas Jenney; and her brother, Wilfred Labbe, Jr.

Betty is survived by her children, Jason Labbe and his wife, Hazel, of Belgrade and Jennifer (Cole) Fortin and her husband, Greg, of Vassalboro. She also leaves behind four beloved grandchildren, Savannah (Labbe) Clark, and her husband Thaddeus, of Vassalboro, Sarah Labbe of Belgrade, Emma Fortin of Vassalboro, and Cole Fortin also from Vassalboro. Betty is also survived by her daughter, Ann Truman of Gardiner; and grandchildren Geoffrey King of Gardiner, Sarah Truman of Corrina, Katie Truman of Gardiner, and Andrew Truman of Augusta; as well as her longtime companion, her cat, Gerard.

A celebration of Betty’s life will take place on Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. at the Center for All Seasons, 1 Center Dr., Belgrade, ME 04917, where memories and stories will be shared. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. A reception will follow.

The family would like to thank Maine General Hospice Care and especially nurse Kerry for their wonderful care of Betty.

Arrangements are in the care of the Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta where condolences and memories may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website by visiting http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the

Belgrade-Rome Special Needs Food Pantry,

P.O. Box 236,

Belgrade, ME 04917

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