Lillian Cooke Spence

Lillian “Lil” (Cooke) Spence, 84, of South Dartmouth died July 4th, 2010 at Sunrise Assisted Living of Dartmouth after an extended illness. She was the wife of Thomas Spence, Jr. to whom she had been married for 62 years.

Born in New Bedford, she graduated from New Bedford High School and resided in New Bedford until moving to Dartmouth in 1970. She was the daughter of the late Frank T. and Rita (Pereira) Cooke.

Mrs. Spence had worked at Rodney Metals in New Bedford for 14 years. An active member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, she sang in their choir for many years. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and enjoyed gardening, singing and loved to dance. She will be remembered for her smiling face and cheerful spirit.

Surviving besides her husband, she was the loving mother of two daughters, Carolyn Burnham and her husband Chuck of S. Dartmouth and Lori Patel and her husband Vishal of Canton; a son, Thomas Spence III and his wife Cynthia of S. Dartmouth; four grandchildren, Cheryl Spillane, Jessica Belanger, Alyson Gangi and Mark Spence; four great-grandchildren, Patrick and Matthew Spillane, William and Lillian Gangi; and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Robert Cooke and her twin sister, the late Margaret Buchanan.

Her Requiem Eucharist will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2010 at 10am in St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, corner of County and Rivet St., New Bedford. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. in the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth. Burial in Rural Cemetery, New Bedford. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 40148, New Bedford, MA 02744 or Community Nurse & Hospice Care, PO Box 751, Fairhaven, MA 02719.