Ella Grace (Holmes) Cook born on October 29, 1903 passed away Wednesday evening at the age of 103. The daughter of Sherman and Eugenia Holmes, Ellie was born in Montreal, Canada and spent her youth in New Hampshire, Milford, South Boston and Franklin. She played basketball in high school and lived most of her adult life in Franklin.
Ellie married the late Hiram Joseph Cook on June 25, 1924 and enjoyed 71 years of marriage and companionship. Ellie and Joe enjoyed traveling and cruising in their retirement. She loving cared for both her and Joe’s parents for many years.
Ellie graduated from Dean Academy June 14, 1922 as valedictorian, and was the college’s oldest living alumna. As valedictorian, Ellie addressed her fellow classmates with thoughtful and inspiring words, “graduates of today will become the leaders of tomorrow.” She went on to thank trustees and teachers who “wrought carefully with patient endeavor to inspire our hearts with true ideals, and have kindled within us an everlasting love for our Alma Mater.”
Ellie aspired to be a teacher even though her father thought she should take shorthand and typewriting. Her first job was with the Franklin School Department as Secretary to the Superintendent. She also worked as a teller at the Benjamin Franklin Bank in Franklin.
Ellie was always generous with her time, believing giving was better then receiving. She volunteered for many years for the Red Cross as a nurse’s aid and for 22 years at the Pondville Hospital working as a typist.
In 1992, she was awarded The Dean Certificate of Merit for her lifelong dedication to learning. Ellie continued to pursue her education at Dean, taking courses where at 86 years of age she enrolled and completed a French course with Ms. Pauline Baxa with a grade of A+. Over the years while studying French and Spanish, her determination and love of knowledge inspired her instructors and fellow students.
Ellie had been a member of the First Universalist Society in Franklin since 1924 when she married Joe, a life-long Universalist. They were part of The Faithful Nine who made sure that the congregation would survive during the years when extinction seemed possible. Through their faithful stewardship, the church stabilized financially, started to grow, and began the search for a new home for the congregation. Ellie was one of the surviving members of the Ladies Circle, an historic group in the church that furnished the kitchen in the new meetinghouse on Chestnut Street.
With an appreciation for the arts, Ellie enjoyed square dancing and reading mysteries. Ellie had many interests and an appetite for life and all it had to offer. She was an avid reader, oil painter, and sewer. Ellie was a woman of the moment, always wanting to keep up with social trends and modern technology. She started recycling well before it became the social norm.
Ellie spent the past 12 years at the Pond Home in Wrentham where she touched many lives. The staff at the Pond Home were a constant support, as were her close friends Allyson Siebert Gilbert, Amelia Dean, the First Universalist Society members and her many friends from Dean College.
A scholarship in Ellie’s honor was set up by her husband Joseph to honor his wife’s lifelong passion for learning. Donations to her scholarship may be made to the Dean College, Alumni Office, 99 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038.
A Service of Memory will take place on Monday, May 21st, 10:00 am at the Ginley Funeral Home, 131 Main Street, Franklin with a reception to follow at the Ray House on the Dean College campus.