ALBANY — Alma R. Cole died on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016. surrounded by a family she and her husband, Donald “Bob” Cole, Jr., had raised with both hard work and love. She was 56.

Mrs. Cole was born in Albany to the late James Whitten Sr. and Alma Appleby. She grew up in Albany, and then moved to Clarksville as a teenager, where she graduated from Bethlehem Central High School in 1978.

Mrs. Cole attended State University of New York College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill for accounting for a year, and then moved on to work for Blue Cross Blue Shield — now known as Wellpoint Insurance — as a customer-service representative. She worked there for 35 years.

Mr. Cole’s history with his wife goes back to his childhood. He was friends with her brother, Robert Price, during grade school, and would see his friend’s teenaged sister — she was five years his senior — at his house. The two started dating in 1980. Mr. Cole described himself as “kind of a bad boy” at the time, but Mrs. Cole was not one to allow that.

“She basically put me in the right direction,” said Mr. Cole, explaining how his future wife gave him an ultimatum to change his ways or no longer date her. He chose the former, and the two were married in 1984. They lived in Albany where they had two children, and their marriage lasted over 32 years, ending only with her death.

Mr. Cole said his wife was always outspoken.

“If she didn’t like something, she would let you know,” he said.

Despite her firm stances on matters, Mrs. Cole loved everyone around her, and was often looking out for others.

“She actually looked out for people more than she actually did herself,” said Mr. Cole.

The couple especially looked out for their two children, David and Vicki.

“We always wanted for them what we never had,” said Mr. Cole, “We actually grew up poor, and we wanted better for our kids.”

But the couple also raised their children as high achievers.

“Both our kids are hard-working, and they got it from both of us,” said Mr. Cole.

Mrs. Cole also doted on her cats. Her latest pet, an orange cat named George, she had raised since he was kitten.

“She loved him to death,” said Mr. Cole. The cat seems attached to her as well, as he still waits outside the couple’s bedroom for her to come out.

“He’s started to notice she’s not there,” said Mr. Cole.

Mrs. Cole loved to crochet, make scrapbooks, and do other arts and crafts. Although she crocheted on her own, she often did arts and crafts with others, whether that was family, friends, or at classes. She especially enjoyed doing projects with her 5-year-old step-granddaughter, Isabella, who would visit on weekends.

“There really wasn’t anybody she didn’t like,” said Mr. Cole. A loving wife, mother, step-grandmother, and pet-owner, Mrs. Cole was surrounded by friends and family up to the end.

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Mrs. Cole is survived by her husband, Donald “Bob” Cole Jr.; her son, David Cole, and her daughter, Vicki Cole; her brother, James Whitten Jr., and his wife, Donna Whitten, her sister, Barbara Whitten, her brother, Robert "Bubba" Price, and his wife, Penny Price, and her brother Joseph Appleby. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and many friends.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. at New Comer Funeral Home at 343 New Karner Rd. in Colonie. A memorial service will follow. The burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105; or to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society at 3 Oakland Ave. Menands, NY 12204.

— H. Rose Schneider