Maude Coles' Obituary
Maude F. Coles of Mt. Laurel passed away Saturday, May 2 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Philadelphia, PA, on May 9, 1916, to the late Maude H. and Frederick C. Freeman, Sr., and she was raised in Riverton, NJ. She graduated from Palmyra High School and Cooper Hospital School of Nursing, where she received her RN.
Maude worked at both Cooper Hospital in Camden and Zurbrugg Memorial Hospital in Riverside, NJ. She also did private duty nursing and worked for a time at the Cinnaminson Manor Nursing Home. When the Visiting Nurses' Association expanded its services from Moorestown to the Tri-boro area, along with her friend Ann Shea, Maude became the first Visiting Nurse for Palmyra, Riverton, and Cinnaminson, a position she held for several years. She was well-known for her skill and compassion in treating her many patients, and she was also highly respected by the doctors and surgical teams with whom she worked.
In 1937 she married Leon William Coles from Cinnaminson, NJ. Together they lived in Mt. Laurel, the Tri-boro area, and Springfield Township, NJ. In 1967 they moved to Verrieres le Buisson, France, when Leon took an overseas’ assignment with the USDA. In 1969 they returned to Cinnaminson and also spent several months at their home in Lehigh Acres, FL. At the time of his death in 1992, Maude and Leon had been married for over 55 years.
Maude had been a member of the Riverton Country Club as well as its ladies' bowling team and a long-time member of the Palmyra Moravian Church in Cinnaminson. She enjoyed gathering for bridge and other card games begun with a group of high school friends that continued until she was 92. She enjoyed reading and needlework of all kinds. Her quick wit and wonderful sense of humor were always a source of great joy, and countless benefitted from her charitable spirit, including the many dogs and other animals she befriended over her lifetime. Gardening, the great outdoors, and traveling were among the things she enjoyed. She loved entertaining friends, but her greatest joy came as loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Surviving are her beloved children, Bonnie Lee Sheridan (the late John) of Doylestown, PA; Carol Lynn Graf (Philip) of Edgewater Park, NJ; and Noel William Coles (Carol) of Edmond, OK. She was also the mother of the late Judith Ann. She leaves behind her dear grandsons: Capt. David J. Sheridan (USN, Ret) (Amy) of Murrysville, PA; Lt. Col. Daniel J. Sheridan (USAF, Ret.) (Gail) of Xenia, OH; and Todd J. Coles (Stephanie) of Oklahoma City, OK; her cherished great-grandchildren: Nikki Sheridan (fiancé Peter Bergman) and Matthew Sheridan of Boise, ID; Courtney, Kathleen, and James Patrick Sheridan of Murrysville, PA; Daniel, Hannah, and Jacob Sheridan of Xenia, OH; and Max Coles of Oklahoma City, OK. Surviving also is her brother, Frederick C. Freeman, Jr., of Norton, MA, several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to attend Maude's life celebration on her 99th birthday, Saturday, May 9, at the Snover-Givnish Funeral Home, Route 130 North in Cinnaminson, NJ. Visitation will begin at 11 A.M., followed by a memorial service at 1:00 PM. Burial will be at Lakeview Memorial Park in Cinnaminson. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Maude’s name may be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Dr. Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053, or to the Burlington County Animal Alliance, c/o Lorraine Schrieber, 7 Pioneer Lane, Willingboro, NJ 08046.
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