Judith COOPER

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COOPER: Surrounded with love, Judith Diane Cooper (Waller), beloved wife of Larry, passed away on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at the Assiniboine Centre, Brandon. Judy was born June 30th, 1944 at Dauphin, MB while her parents Jack Harland and Marjorie Lenora (Southworth) Waller were posted at Paulsen Base of the RCAF. Judy grew up at Elkhorn, MB and after graduating from Elkhorn Collegiate, she worked for the TD and CIBC banks in Brandon and Winnipeg. October 5, 1963 she married Gary Collins of Pilot Mound and they had two daughters Elizabeth Jane on October 1, 1964 and Melinda Lee on June 11, 1968. A talented artist, Judy returned to school and took Commercial Art at ACC and was then employed with ARM Industries in the screen printing shop. After moving to Souris with her two daughters in 1975, Judy once again returned to ACC where she received her Licensed Practical Nursing diploma. Over the next several years, she was employed at the Souris Hospital, Fairview Home and We Care. January 12, 1989 Judy married Larry Cooper and the following September they moved to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island. For the first few years that they were “Islanders” Judy was employed as the Coordinator of the Adult Day Program at the Cumberland Health Centre and then started her own “cottage industry” as a seamstress, doing custom work and creating unique handbags and crafts. Judy was also an avid knitter and cross stitcher, producing many pictures, sweaters, socks, mitts and scarves for family and friends. She also had a life-long love for reading. Judy and Larry returned to Brandon in November 2007. Judy was predeceased by her parents, Jack in 2002, and Marjorie in 2008 and by her sister Jacqueline Anne Hardy in 2003. Left to mourn her passing are her husband of 23 years, Larry; daughters Jane Collins of San Jose, CA and Melinda and son-in-law, John Rose of Banff, AB; granddaughters Emma Paine of Brandon, MB and Wynne Powell of San Jose, CA; grandson Jesse Johnston of Edmonton; step-grandchildren Heather and Brad Rose; sister Wendy Dickie; brothers-in-law Ken Hardy and Keith Dickie; nephews Trevor and Ian Dickie and Scott Hardy; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Norma and Gordie Gadsby, Raymond and Catherine Cooper and George and Margaret Cooper and their families. A memorial service to celebrate Judy’s life was held at Memories Chapel, Brandon on Friday, December 7, 2012 with Rev. Joe Ball officiating. Eulogists were Melinda Rose and Wendy Dickie and Cory Gadsby was the urnbearer. Ashes will be scattered at a favorite spot on Vancouver Island at a later date. If friends so desire, donations in memory of Judy may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, Palliative Care Unit, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, MB, R7A 2B3 or to a charity of one’s choice. When I’m GoneWhen I come to the end of my journeyAnd I travel my last weary mileJust forget if you can, that I ever frownedAnd remember only the smile. Forget unkind words I have spokenRemember some good I have doneForget that I ever had heartache And remember I’ve had loads of fun.Forget that I’ve stumbled and blunderedAnd sometimes fell by the way. Remember I have fought some hard battles and won, ere the close of the day.Then forget to grieve for my goingI would not have you sad for a dayBut in summer just gather some flowersAnd remember the place where I lay.And come in the shade of the evening,When the sun paints the sky in the west Stand for a few moments beside meAnd remember only my best.- Author unknown

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 22, 2012