Roland Conrad Cote

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Roland Conrad Cote in Pincher Creek, AB, on July 9, 2020.  He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  His family was a great source of pride and joy.  He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary, and their five children, Jeannette Wilson (Lee), Raymond Cote (Beatrix), Colette Jones (Steve), Denis Cote (Loretta) Jocelyn Nelson (Cory), sixteen grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  He also leaves to mourn his brother Rene Cote (Claudette) and sisters, Suzanne Viens and Carmen Belhumeur (Bernie).

Roland (Rollie as everyone knew him by) was born to parents, Conrad and Blanche Cote.  He was raised on a farm in the Falher/Donnelly, AB area.  He moved to Edmonton, AB to attend college where he obtained his teaching certificate.  It was here that he met the love of his life, Mary, and they were married on December 31, 1958.  His teaching career began in Edmonton (2 years), then they moved to the Blood Reserve near Cardston (2 years), then to Brocket (4 years) and finally settled in the beautiful town of Pincher Creek, where Mary, being from Nova Scotia, remarked, “It’s not the ocean, but the mountains will do”.  Roland was a teacher and administrator during his teaching career and was Principal of St. Michael’s Catholic School when he retired in 1997 at the age of 63.

Roland was extremely active in the community.  He was an active member of St. Michael’s Catholic Parish, town councillor, golf club board member, minor hockey board member, minor baseball board member, community band member and Crowsnest Pass Orchestra member.  He also loved to participate in sports.  Golf and hockey were his favourites, but he also dabbled in squash and curling.  He played in the Southern Alberta Sr. Men’s Hockey League with the Kainai Chiefs, Ft. Macleod Broncs and Pincher Creek Sulphur Kings and when he came of age The Foothills Oldtimers. He golfed for as long as we all can remember.  He introduced the entire family to golfing including Mary, who figured if she was ever going to see him from May – October she had better join him out on the course.  He gave each of us lessons, whether they were requested or not.  He passed along his expertise to many junior golfers as well.  He also loved to coach minor hockey and minor baseball teams. Also, he was a tremendous and sometimes very vocal supporter of every sport and activity his children and grandchildren participated in.  He loved to sing and was an active member of the parish choir to the end.  He was an excellent dancer, which his nurses can attest to.  He taught each of his children to dance and was a parent instructor for dance lessons to students on Sunday nights at the school.  At family get-togethers, he loved to play cards and board games.  He always had to give the other team hints for the answers, which in turn, would lead his teammates to request a trade for him halfway through the game.  He will be fondly and forever remembered as that bass singing, golf loving, hockey loving, games night hinting, joyful, happy man by his family and friends.

Roland was predeceased by his parents, Conrad and Blanche Cote, sisters, Judith Lamoureux and Josephine Babin, and brothers, Edmond Cote and Gerard Cote.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Linden View, Taber Hospital, Lethbridge Hospital GARU and Pincher Creek Hospital for their exemplary care of Roland and his family.

In Roland’s memory, if you wish, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Canada (20 Eglinton Ave. W., 16th Floor, Toronto, ON M4R 1K8).  Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Funeral Mass and Interment will be a private family gathering.  A family and community Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roland Conrad Cote, please visit our floral store.