Obituary of Ruth Adeline Cooke

Ruth Adeline L’Abbee Cooke, 93, passed away peacefully on 1/23/22 at home surrounded by her family. She was born in Holyoke on 11/22/28 to the late Dewey L’Abbee and Blanche Caron L’Abbee. Ruth graduated from South Hadley High School in 1944. She married Warren Cooke on October 16, 1948, and they spent most of their married life in Granby after building their home on family farmland at Cooke’s Corner. They moved to Hadley in 2007 to be near their family. Ruth worked in the library at Mount Holyoke College for 20 years in her dream job. She loved reading, especially to her grandchildren. Her true enjoyment came in retirement when she and Warren cared for their three youngest grandsons. She talked about her days spent with them with much fondness. She also enjoyed attending all the sporting events that her 8 grandchildren played at Hopkins Academy over the course of 22 years which totaled at least a thousand games. Gramma Cooke was known for her baking, especially Rolo cookies, gingerbread men and muffins, which her grandkids, great grandkids, and the athletes on the teams really enjoyed. Family vacations at Cape Cod and Lake Winnipesaukee were annual events that she always enjoyed even as recently as August 2021. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Warren, in 2010, her siblings Donald, Una, Paul, and Rita and her granddaughter Samantha Cooke. She is survived by her children Pamela Bombardier of Hadley, W. Dyer (Pamela Jean) Cooke of Dalton, and Glenn (Elizabeth) Cooke of Hadley. Her 8 grandchildren: Mary (Mike) Shellman, Andrew (Greer) Bombardier, Mark (Jenny) Bombardier, Nate (Caitlin) Bombardier, Rachel (Brad) Murphy, Leslie (Josh) Clark, Tim (Sara) Cooke, and Rob (Megan) Cooke. Her 10 great grandchildren: Kendall, Cara, Adeline, Colette, Kevin, Luella, Alston, Charlotte, Emily, and Nolan. Ruth is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law Joan and Donald Cooke and her sister-in-law Blanche Cooke. She also leaves her former daughter-in-law Katherine Washburn and several nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank Glen Bombardier, MD, her former son-in-law, for his excellent medical care and Steve Fox for always making her laugh. A graveside service will be held in the spring. Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. For those wishing to do so, donations in her memory may be made to the Hadley Public Library, 50 Middle Street, Hadley, MA 01035. For more information please visit www.beersandstory.com.