Merle Aileen Cooper took her first breath March 26, 1930 in Castor, Alberta. Her parents, Henry and Elizabeth, were hard-working farmers who raised eight children. They were a musical family. Merle graduated from Lindsay Thurber High School in 1948 and married Gordon Hanson. Shelley was their first born, followed by Sharon, Harlan and Terry. They lived on a farm out by Joffre until 1968, when Merle and her children moved to Red Deer. She worked as a bookkeeper and resourcefully raised her family. Merle met Nick Nakoneczny in the mid 1970’s and they were married in 1982. They spent many weekends with friends, children and grandchildren, at “The Outside Inn,” their getaway property on the Red Deer River. In 2001, they moved to Sierras on Taylor Drive where they enjoyed their final year together. Merle loved to dance with Nick and enjoyed classic movies, crafts, fine fashion, and a good cup of coffee with good company. She will be especially remembered for her story telling and her sense of humor, even in hard times.

Merle breathed her last breath on April 30, 2019 in the Red Deer hospital. She was surrounded by love and is survived by her children: Shelley Rue, grandchildren Neil and Stacey, great grandchildren Braydon and Colby; Sharon and Terry Krushel, grandchildren Jessie & Daniel, Denver & Catherine; Harlan Hanson & Lydia Alves; Terry & Rob Hydomako, grandchildren Rachel and Rebecca; One sister, Joyce & Roland Ronaghan, and one brother, Ken & Noy Cooper, as well as many nieces and nephews. Merle was predeceased by her husband, Nicholas, in 2002, as well as her siblings: William Cooper, Kathleen Voorhees, Genevieve Perschbacher, Gerald Cooper, and Lois Cooper.

There will be a celebration of Merle’s life Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. at the Party Room on the second floor of Sierra’s on Taylor Drive, 4512 – 52 Ave., Red Deer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Red Deer Hospital, or STARS Air Ambulance in Merle’s name. Merle’s children would like to express gratitude for the compassion and care provided to Mom at the Red Deer Hospital.

• Date : 2019-04-30
• Location : Red Deer, Alberta