Doris Lea Cote

Doris L. (Webster) Cote of South Portland passed away peacefully on November 9, 2025, surrounded by so much love from her family. Doris had such a big heart and a smile to match. She kept a positive attitude in life and during her battle with cancer, always remaining hopeful. Doris loved her family dearly. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her world. She enjoyed all of their sporting events, recitals, celebrations, birthdays, and many milestones in their lives. She was the best mother, always giving selflessly of herself. Doris loved spending time at the family camp on Frye Island and was always up for a family adventure. She also loved coffee dates, shopping, and visiting with her dear friends. Doris was born in Castine, Maine. She grew up in Penobscot, Thorndike, and Portland, Maine, where she met Richard Clark. They married on New Year’s Eve in 1963 and lived at Otis Air Force Base in Onset, Massachusetts for four years before returning to Portland, where they would raise their two daughters, Susan and Dawn. Doris was a stay-at-home mom for many years. As her children got older, she went to Pierre’s Beauty School and went on to work part-time at Willard Square Beauty Shop. Doris eventually went to work at Shaw’s Supermarket in North Deering, where she worked for over twenty years; many of those years were spent in the bakery decorating cakes. She was also a food sampler, which she really enjoyed as she loved interacting with all the customers. Her best work would come after leaving Shaw’s, she was a nanny. She was amazing at her job and loved the four families she worked for, spanning over 30 years until her retirement. She loved the children in her care and thought of them as her own grandchildren. They all called her Nan/Nanny, just like her own grandchildren. Doris is predeceased by her mother, Lenora Bakeman; father, Herman (Ted) Webster; stepfather, Edward Brockelbank; sister, Delores (Dee Dee) Gilley; brother, Dale Gordon; and niece, Tammy Sawyer. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Lelansky and son-in-law, Mathew Lelansky, both of South Portland; and her daughter, Dawn Gross of Portland. Grandchildren: Nicholas Lelansky of Orlando, Florida; Victoria and Paul Hinman of Standish; Lyndsey Berry and Dennis Carter of Westbrook; Ashley Berry and Dan Attenweiler of Westbrook; Patrick and Jessica Plourd of Windham; stepchildren Tara Golzbein, Nicole Cote, and Nathan Cote. Great-grandchildren: Gabe, Jared, Maddie, Hope, Emma, Matthew, Rae, Parker, Lenora, Quinn, Phoebe, Ava, Ella, and Nicco. She is also survived by her aunt, Lena Bakeman of Bucksport, Maine and many loving cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. The family would like to thank all the healthcare professionals who cared for Doris over the last year at New England Cancer Specialists, Maine Medical Center, Seaside and Springbrook Rehabilitation, Hospice of Southern Maine, The Gosnell House, and The Cedars. Burial will be in the spring at the Castine Cemetery. Donations may be made in Doris’ memory to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Doris Lea Cote

April 14, 1947 - November 9, 2025