Helen McShane McSherry Cooper passed away peacefully in her sleep on 18 October 2020, at Valley Senior Living-Woodside Village.  She was 100 1/2 years old.

Nell, as she was known, was born 16 March 1920 in Cambuslang, Scotland, the second child to John Joseph and Rose McShane (McKeown) McSherry.  At the age of three, Nell moved to Nova Scotia, Canada with her family.  Nell loved her life in Canada, but her parents missed home, so the family moved back to Scotland when Nell was 13.

After school Nell moved to Coventry, England where she lived and worked during World War II.  Nell's war time jobs included working in a bakery and parachute factory, to name a few.

It was during this time that she met her future husband, Glen Cooper, while she and her girlfriend, Maisie, were waiting in a pub for a pair of nylons to be delivered.  The soldier with the nylons never showed up, but U.S. Army Sergeant Cooper was there instead.

They married in Coventry on 16 September 1944 and their first child, John Joseph Cooper was born in 1945, but only lived a few hours.

After the war ended, Glen went ahead to the United States to find a job and a place to live.  Nell arrived in New York in March of 1946 and began her journey to Glen in the Midwest.

Over the next eight years, Glen and Nell welcomed four children while living in four different cities; Craig born in Austin, MN, Kevin in Bemidji, MN, Mark in St. Paul, MN, and Sherry in Grand Forks, ND.  Once Glen and Nell were settled in Grand Forks, she proclaimed to Glen that he could move, but she was never moving again and happily lived the rest of her life in her adopted home of Grand Forks.

After Glen's retirement from Walman Optical, they were able to travel and loved to spend winters in Florida until Glen passed away in 1987 after 43 years of marriage.

Nell spent her life devoted to the things she held dear, first and foremost, her family.  Cooking, baking, knitting, cross-stitch and ceramics were just a few of her hobbies.  If you were lucky enough to receive a homemade gift from Nell, or one of her amazing desserts, you never forgot it.  She loved volunteering for many organizations, including taking in foster children, helping at Holy Family Church and St. Anne's Guest Home.  A charter member of Holy Family Catholic Church, faith was a very important part of Nell's entire life.

Nell is survived by son, Craig (Anne), Plymouth, MN, daughter, Sherry Cassin, Fenelon Falls, ON; grandchildren, Molly (Matt) Donnelly, Snowmass Village, CO, Brian (Kelly) Cassin, Toronto, ON and Jaclyn (Kyle) Whittle, Whitby, ON; great-grandchildren Sean Cooper, Grace Cooper, Ronan Donnelly, Julianne Whittle and Abigail Whittle; as well as countless nieces, nephews and cousins.

Nell is preceded in death by her parents, John Joseph and Rose McShane McSherry, husband, Glen Cooper, sons John, Kevin and Mark Cooper, grandson Patrick Cooper, son-in-law Bernie Cassin and all nine of her siblings and their spouses.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Holy Family Church.

Due to these uncertain times, the family understands if you are not able to pay your respects to Nell in person.  Please bake a loaf of her famous banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, or apple pie to share with family and friends in her honor.

Mass of Christian Burial: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 27, 2020 in the Historic Norman Funeral Home Chapel.  Due to COVID-19, masks and social distancing are required.
Visitation: One hour prior to the liturgy in the funeral home on Tuesday.
Burial: Calvary North Cemetery, Grand Forks, ND.