SACO — Ada Rowe Cook, 96, died Saturday, Sept. 22, at Seal Rock Healthcare in Saco. She was born Nov. 30, 1921, in Boothbay Harbor to J. Bryan and Margaret Sawyer Rowe.

After high school graduation in 1939, she attended Wilfred Academy of Beauty Culture in Boston. Following completion of that program, she returned to Bar Harbor and, at the urging of her mother, opened her shop, called Ada Rowe’s Beauty Nook. In those days, A.H. Benoit & Co. had a summer store close by, and that is how she met her husband, John Cook, who was beginning his career in retail. They were married for 40 years until his death in 1983 and lived and raised their family in Portland and Lewiston.

In 2000, Ada moved to Old Orchard Beach, where some of her best days were spent. She so enjoyed her morning beach walks, entertaining her “Golden Girls” group from Lewiston and making many new special friends in her condo. In 2015, she moved to The Inn at Atlantic Heights in Saco. There, she met and welcomed more new friends into her life who became very dear to her.

Through the years, those who knew her well knew what an avid sports fan she was. They also knew that she loved a “winner” and she did not enjoy visits or phone calls during a game or a match!

Ada, or “Missy” as she became known to many after the birth of her first grandchild, is survived by her son, Terry Cook, her daughter, Peg Johnson, and her husband, Bill, all of Old Orchard Beach. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Mark Johnson and wife, Tanya, of Chapel Hill, N.C., Julie Johnson of York, John Cook of Colorado, Jim Cook of Asheville, N.C., and great-grandchildren, Liam and Hazen Johnson.

So very important in Ada’s life is her “other daughter,” Mona Flanagin, of Hampton, N.H.; Mona’s daughters, Kelly Tortolano and husband, Mike, and their children, Kasey and Shea and Shauna Belanger and husband, Bob, and their children, Audrey, Adele and Alyse.

Over the years, Ada did remarkably well keeping up with the lives of nieces and nephews who survive her. She was especially close to her nieces Sue, Nancy and Marianne, of Boothbay Harbor and Florida. The memories she made with “Charlie’s Angels” and their families brought her so much happiness.

At her request, there will be no service, as she specifically stated that she does not want people standing around talking about how much she loved chocolate and dogs! If anyone wishes, a donation in her name could be made to the Town of Boothbay Harbor-Footbridge Enhancement Fund, established in 2011, in her brother Charlie’s memory: Town of Boothbay Harbor-Footbridge Enhancement Fund, 11 Howard St., Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538.

Arrangements entrusted to Hobbs Funeral Home, South Portland.

Ada Rowe Cook

Copy the Story Link