Dolores Mae Cole's Obituary
It is with great sorrow we announce the peaceful passing of Dolores M Cole (Laurie) on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025. She was 98 years young.
Kind, giving and effortlessly beautiful inside and out, Laurie led a full, engaging life. Born on November 13, 1926 in Duluth, Minnesota and raised further north in Hermantown, hers was an idyllic childhood. Though the winters were long and the snow deep, the summers were warm and carefree.
She lived with her loving parents Karl Felix and Bertha Melin Seaberg as the eldest of 3 siblings. Laurie talked of walking to school in snow that reached the tops of telephone poles after a breakfast of hot oatmeal topped with whipped cream from her mother’s cow. The family was surrounded by Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents often spending time on their Grandparent’s farm and at Felix and Bertha’s beloved white cabin on Caribou Lake.
Laurie’s formative years proved a solid foundation for her as her love for literature, fine art, crafts, collies and opera unfolded. She had an innate flair for fashion and could sport a suitcoat, beach coat and latex bathing cap at the lake with a special flourish. As a teen, her favorite chore was dusting the family dining room where the radio resided, so she could listen to the Met Opera’s Saturday broadcast simultaneously.
Laurie graduated from Hermantown High School in 1944 as Valedictorian of her Class. She was offered a full scholarship to Carlton College, Minnesota in the field of Journalism but instead chose to enlist in the U.S Nurse Cadets Corp at St Lukes School of Nursing in Duluth to support the war effort. After completing the program as a certified R.N. Laurie worked in Denver, Colo. as a Psychiatric Nurse.
Nonetheless, she always returned home to Caribou Lake and this is where she met her future husband, Robert V. Cole (Bob), the love of her life. After being introduced by her Uncle Harold, Laurie and Bob were drawn to each other by their mutual interests that included, no less, their love of opera. They soon married and moved to Hudson, Ohio where they raised 5 children. Laurie’s benevolent, amiable nature along with her unassuming humor flourished in Hudson. She made friends easily, established life- long relationships and immersed herself in numerous civic activities that included: joining Christ Church Episcopal; teaching Sunday School; volunteering with the Red Cross, Blossom’s Friends of the Cleveland Orchestra committee, Hudson Heritage Association as Secretary and painting, crafting, sewing for fun. She also utilized her R.N. degree by working as School Nurse for several summers at Western Reserve Academy and as a Nurse at Hattie Larlhams Center for Children with Disabilities. All this while juggling a family of 5 children.
Laurie and Bob would also take the children on epic camping adventures during summers, throughout the U.S. and Canada. They always began or ended their trips at the cabin on Caribou Lake.
When Laurie became an empty-nester a new chapter of travel opened up for her. Her Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren who adored her, reciprocated their love and appreciation for her with birthday celebrations in Mexico, Las Vegas, Maui and of course Caribou Lake for her 70th, 75th, 80th and 90th Birthdays respectively. Other destinations abroad included Paris with a dear friend and Sweden with her sister Phyllis - to visit her Father’s family and his boyhood home; Laurie and Phyl described this trip as “a dream come true.” During her 90th year, Laurie donned a pink hat and joined the 2017 Women’s March in Washington D.C. where she drew an adoring crowd.
At the age of 93, in Summer 2019, Laurie made one final trip to Caribou Lake. She sunned, she swam, she waded and slept and she drank in the Caribou sunsets. And there on the dock looking out across the expanse of lakeside memories, she took great comfort in one thought:
Though the winters are long and the snow deep, the summers remain warm and carefree.
May you rest in Peace, Mom. We love you!
Laurie is predeceased by her parents, Felix and Bertha Seaberg; husband Robert V Cole; sister Phyllis (Bill) Donley: brother Jim (Mary Ann) Seaberg ; Son Robert Vail, Jr. and Granddaughter, Ashley Melin. Laurie is survived by her children Sandy (Steve), Patsy, Cilla (Bob), Wendy (David). She is also survived by her grandchildren: Megan, Rachael, David, Jenny, Rose, Zachary, Travis and Kirsten; Great Grandchildren: Gracie, Faith, Lailah, Eliana, Tate, and Odin along with beloved nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at Avalon Care Center for their exceptional care and kindness. And to Bristol Hospice for their compassion while ensuring our mother’s comfort during her final days.
A Memorial will be held on Aug. 2, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church 275 East Spain Street, Sonoma, CA. Inurnment will follow at a later date at Markillie - St. Mary Cemetery in Hudson, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers donations in Laurie’s name are suggested to
Hudson Heritage Association
P.O. Box 2218
Hudson OH 44236
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