LOUISE COOPER

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LOUISE COOPER

February 16, 1928 - December 27, 2023

                                                              The Perennial Optimist

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a sweet and gentle lady. Louise Cooper was kind and generous to all. She was a woman who never failed to make a great impression on everyone who knew her. She will be lovingly remembered by her family and friends.

Left to grieve are her daughters, Sandra Bueti (Vincent Bueti); Catherine Cooper (Robert Meikle); grandchildren, David Bueti (Ann Krawchuk); Santina Bueti (Ryan Santos); and her latest gift from God, her precious great- granddaughter, Avaya Sandie-Lou Santos. As well, extended relatives in BC and friends in Winnipeg mourn her passing. She was predeceased by her mother Mary Ostapowych and sisters, Elinor Pitchford and Helen Kormilo. The love of her life, her husband Neil Cooper passed 40 years prior. Louise and Neil met where they worked at the T. Eaton Co. in the Display Department. Together they built a life in their home on Spruce Street. While Neil drew, painted extraordinary works of art, and tinkered on his many projects in his basement studio, Louise commanded the kitchen, flower beds and vegetable garden. She prepared delicious Ukrainian soul food and many other types of cooking. A superb baker, she provided a constant supply of healthy oatmeal cookies, butter tarts and melt-in-your-mouth shortbread cookies. Favourites of her grandchildren would be potato soup, macaroni and cheese and tapioca pudding. Despite Mom’s excellent cooking skills, her modesty and perfectionism would usually cause her to drop a comment as to how her cooking effort could have been improved on.

Of great pride to Louise and Neil was the beautiful lakefront, tri-level cottage that they built, just the two of them at Lake of Two Mountains in Ontario. They worked during summer weekends and brief holidays over the span of 20 years. They taught themselves carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing, roofing, cabinetry, and furniture making. As lifelong learners and avid readers, every few weeks involved a trip to the public library, which was their internet and source of information. The interior of the cottage was tastefully adorned with Neil’s art and Polynesian artifacts. Before marrying Louise, Neil had lived and worked in the South Pacific. Later on, he and Louise made trips to New Zealand where he had trained for the war as a RNZAF bomber pilot, and to Tahiti and the Cook Islands where he managed various stores for the A.B. Donald Trading Company.

Louise was a meticulous and talented homemaker who sewed from tiny doll clothes to furniture upholstery. She decorated with the same skill and tenacity as when scaling ladders and hauling logs at the Lake. Her children and grandchildren were the beneficiaries of not only her hard work but also of her unwavering love and care as they grew up to become accomplished adults of whom she was very proud. After Dad’s passing, she was determined to be independent. She lived in her own home which she cleaned and maintained until her 95th year. She had an active, self-reliant spirit and was loathe to ask for help. She always wanted to do for herself and this was probably why she lived such a long, happy and healthy life.

Louise will be greatly missed by all whose lives were enriched by her presence on this earth and in particular her immediate family for whom she never forgot a birthday or any other special event for which she would go to great lengths to find the perfect gift and card, within which she would write the most touching sentiments in beautiful script and poetry. Her sweet messages and our memories of her will go on and on and be cherished.

Louise’s family would like to thank Calvary Place and their exemplary staff for their incredible care and support of our beloved mother.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Calvary Place Personal Care Home, 1325 Erin Street, Winnipeg.

A Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends to honour Louise in a few months, once her ashes, together with Neil’s are spread at Lake of Two Mountains, their sacred place.

Do not stand by my grave and weep

I am not there. I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow

I am a diamond glint on snow

I am the sunlight on ripened grain

I am the gentle Autumn rain.

When you awake in the morning hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circling flight

I am the soft starshine at night

Do not stand by my grave and cry

I am not there … I did not die.

Anonymous

Tributes: www.mosaicfunerals.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 30, 2023, Dec 30, 2023