Raymond M. Cote

Raymond M. Cote
Known to many as Frenchie

Thomaston – Raymond Marie Cote, 87, died Oct. 7, 2018, at Cook Willow Convalescent Home in Plymouth after a long battle with Neuropathy.

Raymond “Frenchie” was born in Lauzon, Quebec, Canada, May 25, 1931, son of Louis and Marie-Reine (Fortin) Cote. He was the second son and sixth of a family of 13 children. By the time he was 13 his father pulled him out of school to run the family farm. In 1950 they bought a farm in Vermont which he ran until he was 21. On November 15, 1952 Raymond married Rollande Denis and they began a long married life of 65 years.

Raymond was a “jack of all trades” and held many jobs over the years. He was a farmer, plumber and mechanic. He came to Connecticut to do construction work, doing all the blasting and drilling needed to build Route 8 and many other highways. He retired from Plume and Atwood tin Thomaston working in the casting shop. After retirement he could not sit still. After doing several odd jobs he became a heavy equipment mechanic for George Touponce until he was 78 years old.

Raymond’s favorite pastime was fishing in rivers, ponds, and the ocean. He always enjoyed growing a big garden. He would also cut trees down for people in exchange for the wood where he would cut and split for the furnace at home. He also loved fixing any kind of equipment like lawnmowers, snow blowers, cars and chainsaws.

The family would like to thank the nurses and aides at Cook Willow Convalescent Home for the excellent care they gave Raymond the past 3 years.

Raymond is survived by his daughters, Denise (Kevin) Weik, of Morris; and Adrianne Cote (Don Dimitratos), of Tracy, CA; his sons, Stephen (Lori) Cote, of Plymouth; William (Leslie) Cote, of Seneca, SC; Andre Cote, of Torrington; a son-in-law, Kevin Magee, of Austin, TX; 10 grandchildren, Ericka, Keely, Philip, Melissa (Dan), Jason (Summer), Amanda (Eric), David, Catherine (Greg), Joshua, and Seth; 8 great-grandchildren, Aidan, Grayson, Oliver, Charlotte, Aaron, Tyler, Ryley, and Thomas; his sisters, Edith, Veronique, Jeannine, Bridget (Marcel), Madeleine, Angel, and Elaine; his brothers, Richard (Fabienne) and Leopold (Karen); and 69 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, wife, daughter, Loraine Magee, infant sons, Ronald and Donald, infant grandson, Todd Cote, daughter-in-law, Barbara Cote, 2 grandsons-in-law, Michael and Charles; his sisters, Louise and Genevieve and brother, Vincent.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, October 12 at 11 a.m. directly at St. Thomas Church 1 E. Main St., Thomaston. Burial will follow service at St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours will be held Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Lyons Funeral Home, 46 High Street, Thomaston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Raymond’s memory to St. Thomas Church in care of St. Maximillian Kolbe Parish, 19 Electric Ave., Thomaston, CT 06787.