Barbara Arlene Cole, age 76, of Cecil County, MD, soared into Heaven's Gates while surrounded in unity by her family on Friday, January 14, 2022. Born in Wilmington, DE, on October 23, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Marion DeGraw Borell and Cornelius Carroll, Sr.

Married to the love of her life, Charles L. Cole, Jr., for 55 years, Barbara was the matriarch to a strong and devoted family. Their union truly epitomized the dedication to their wedding vows, "In Sickness and in Health" and "'Til Death do us Part".

A graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, Wilmington, she went on to work at the DuPont Company before starting a family. After living in Newark, DE, for several years, she and her husband built a home in Fair Hill, MD, where she proudly raised her children and grandchildren for 45 years. A homemaker for many years, Barbara re-entered the workforce to become an expert medical biller, then a certified orthotic fitter.

Barbara's passion was her family, of which she was fiercely protective. Any obstacles presented were met with an unparalleled voracity. She was a "victor against evil" and the embodiment of strength and tenacity. She enjoyed yard sales, penny slot machines, family dinner nights, Hulu, Alexa, being a Republican, gardening, doorless jeep rides (with her foot on the peg in Pineapple Express), and above all, boating on the Northeast and Susquehanna rivers aboard the "Cirrhosis of the River". Since moving in with her daughter, Von, for the last couple of years, she embraced river floating and Compound living as part of an amazing village in North East, MD. She made a tremendous number of friends who were as special and important to her as her family.

Barbara "Brockovich" Cole was instrumental in shuttering Spectron Chemical for environmental atrocities committed near her home. This resulted in Spectron being labeled Maryland's largest Superfund site. In her quest to save the community, she was the avid lead reporter for the Providence Gazette.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Charlie Cole; children, Angela Rennison (Graham), Elkton, MD, Charles Cole, III (Kathy), Townsend, DE, and Yvonne "Von" Cole (Ripley, Mack and Tucker), North East, MD; siblings, Patricia Stevens (Michael), Palmdale, CA, Thomas Carroll (Claudia), Summit, MO, and David Carroll (Anne), Wilmington, DE; step-mother, Joan Carroll, Wilmington, DE; grandchildren, Chuck Cole, IV (Kristin), Ryan Stanard (Chelsea), Molly Stanard, Patrick Stanard, Emma Pettitt (Pat), and Dalton Pettitt (Angel); and great grandchildren, Makayla, Jeremy, Levi (mother, Natalie), Cecilia, Iris, Trevor and Charles Jordan.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Cornelius "Con" Carroll; as well as her beloved grandson, Jordan Cole.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m., Friday, January 21, 2022 at St. Jude Church, 928 Turkey Point Road, North East, MD  21901, with visitation beginning at 12 Noon. Interment will follow in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Elkton. Celebration of life will follow the interment at the Von Cole Compound, 88 Wells Camp Road, North East, MD  21901. In a nod to her favorite family dinner parties, food will be potluck. Pack a cooler with your choice of beverage while we honor our family matriarch in a tribute to her life.

Face masks are required at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Immaculate Conception Church, 455 Bow Street, Elkton, MD  21921.

"Rest Easy, Mama…You've Earned It! Forever proud of how hard you fought to continue to make more memories with your family."

hickshomeforfunerals.com