Elsa (Hurlbut) Cole, 87, of Stonington, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015.
She was born on June 5, 1927, in Boston, Mass., to Stephen and Irene (Turnure) Hurlbut, and had two half-sisters, Diana (Kissel) MaCarthur-Stanham and Sylvia (Kissel) Demais, who predeceased her.
Elsa grew up in New York City on the Upper East Side and attended the Brearley School and Foxcroft, ultimately graduating from Vassar College in 1949 as an English major. She married Walter Ferry Cole Jr., who passed away in 1979. They made their home in Stonington, and had four sons - Stephen, Stuart, George and Durant "Randy".
In the early 1960s, Elsa joined the real estate firm of Evelyn Cole Real Estate, Inc. working with her mother-in-law, Evie Cole, and continuing through 2001. Throughout her life, Elsa was known for her quiet and dignified grace, welcoming household and active community involvement. She loved the outdoors, whether sailing with her husband on their boat "Faith", playing tennis at the Wadawanuck Club, skiing with her family or tending her gardens.
Elsa also loved her small Stonington community, serving on the Stonington Borough Zoning Commission and for a term as borough warden. She served on the board of directors of the Stonington Historical Society, which her parents were instrumental in forming. In her later years, she traveled the world as an enthusiastic participant with the Earthwatch Institute, often with friends and occasionally her grandchildren, to whom she was a loving and attentive grandmother.
She is survived by her four sons, Stephen Cole and wife, Ann (White), of Brookline, Mass., Stuart Cole of Stonington, George Cole of Westerly and Randy Cole and wife, Janis (Gregoire), of Vershire, Vt.; and four grandchildren, Haley Plourde-Cole of New York, N.Y., Stephanie and Allison Cole of Boston, Mass. and Forest Plourde-Cole of Washington, D.C.
A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 8, at Calvary Church, 27 Church St., Stonington, with a reception to follow (details TBA).
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Elsa's memory to the Stonington Historical Society, http://www.stoningtonhistory.org/.
To share a message of condolence or remembrance with her family, please click the link below.