Clement "Al" Cole Jr.

Al Cole, as he was known by so many, was born September 24, 1928, and passed away on November 13, 2019. He was born in New York, NY to Martina Christina Maria Cornelia Adriance Cole and Clement Allen Cole, Sr. Martina was born in Middleburg, The Netherlands, and came to our great country via Ellis Island. Mr. Cole, Sr. was born in Woodbine, Iowa, USA. Al had one sister, Constance Anita Cole, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Cole was raised in Birmingham, AL, then spent his high school years in St. Petersburg, FL, moving to New Orleans to attend Tulane University. There, he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics. He taught airplane mechanics at Keesler AFB Biloxi, MS, for which he had to have permission from his parents since he was only 17 when he enlisted in what was then the Army Air Corps.
He married Loraine Wolcott Saucier Cole in New Orleans, LA September 10, 1955 at Carrollton United Methodist Church, whom he met at Newcomb College for ladies. The couple moved to St. Louis, MO after a honeymoon in Acapulco and Mexico City, Mexico. In St. Louis, 5 of their 6 children would be born, one dying only 30 minutes after her birth (Elizabeth Ann). The sixth child was born in New Orleans upon their return in 1969.
While in St. Louis, Mr. Cole would sell Baby Butler Furniture before being an employee at Union Electric Company, and held various other board positions. Upon returning to New Orleans, Mr. Cole would work for The Chamber of Commerce, in the economic development division, and brought numerous jobs to this wonderful city of New Orleans.
Mr. Cole had many talents, his biggest being a singer. He sang in Barbershop Quartets and sang weekly for over 45 years in the choir at Carrollton United Methodist Church. He loved crossword puzzles as much as he did his Saints. He has been a loyal and devoted fan of theirs for all of the franchise life. He would even tell the preacher it is time to finish up his service, because he needed to get home to see his Saints play.
Mr. Cole is survived by his 5 children, Diana (Mike), Allen (Mimi), Lisa (Debbie), Amy (Sid), and Angela (Darren); 11 grandchildren, Michael, Sara, Max, Morgan, Olivia, Sidney, Lee, Louise, Cole, Ian, and Loraine; and 1 great-grandchild, Lily.
We will truly miss this wonderful man we call Pop and Paw Paw, and reminisce about all he has gone through in his 91 years. He is now in the arms of his wife again, and we celebrate their reunion after 18 years apart.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Monday, November 18, 2019 beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Garden of Memories Funeral Home, 4900 Airline Drive, Metairie, LA 70001. A funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. Interment will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery.

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