Sr. Elizabeth (Liz) Cole, age 76, a Sister of Providence for 35 years, died December 21, 2024, at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, Washington.
Sr. Liz, as she was fondly known, was born Elizabeth Ann Cole on September 4, 1948, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to her parents Edward and Agnes (MacLellan) Cole. Due to her father’s work, Sr. Liz moved with her two brothers (Edward and Kenneth) and her parents to just outside Philadelphia and then Portland, Oregon.
She attended and graduated high school from Villa Maria Academy, Malvern, Pennsylvania, in 1966. Her other education achievements include: a BA degree in Psychology, University of Portland (1970) and a PhD in Experimental Psychology, State University of New York (SUNY), Stonybrook, New York (1977).
Teaching at SUNY and Gonzaga University as an Associate Professor and Lecturer in psychology was Sr. Liz’s profession before she entered the community in 1989, receiving First Vows in 1991, and Final Vows in 1995.
Sr. Liz’s ministries included: teacher aide, McLoughlin High School, Milton-Freewater, Oregon (1990-91), and prison ministry, assisting with Sunday morning communion and teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to inmates, Washington State Penitentiary (1991-98). For the Sisters of Providence Community she served as the Director and team member of the Sisters’ Formation ministry (1999-2005); an Intake Specialist and receptionist at St. Joseph Family Center, Spokane (2006-2016); as a volunteer at Transitions, Spokane; and in the Religious Community Library.
Sr. Liz had an infectious and irresistible laugh. She loved interacting and sharing with others, whether visiting with good friends, a trip to a thrift store, having a lively political discussion, sharing thoughts on a good book or watching Gonzaga women’s basketball. She loved music and her cello sometimes traveled with her. She will be missed.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Kenneth. She is survived by her brother, Edward, and by the Sisters in her community.
To view Sister Liz’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Hennessey Funeral Home and Crematory at www.hennesseyondivision.com.