Shirley Colleen Foppiano

Shirley was born to Emerald Jeanette and William Clement on January 12, 1926, in Kansas City, Missouri. Shirley's ultimate desire was to be a pilot in the Women's Air Corp during World War II. She obtained her pilot's license at the age of 16, only to find out she was too young to qualify. She then pursued her artistic endeavors and was offered a job with Walt Disney Studios as a cartoonist. Being only 17, she decided to stay in Kansas City and assisted in the war effort by drawing the topographical maps for the African Invasion. Eventually moving to Fresno in 1948, she met and married Ted Coopman and they had three children and were married for 29 years until Ted's passing. Shirley fell in love and married Donald Robert Foppiano on October 2, 1982. They spent their 31 years of married life traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Shirley spent her adult life actively participating in several charity organizations as well as heading many of them. She was always the "room Mom" and PTA President. She is responsible for taking three families and molding them into one large loving one. Always the life of the party, she held the love of everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her. She was preceded in death by her brother Donald. She is survived by her loving husband, Donald Robert Foppiano; children, Christine Coopman, William Coopman, Ted Coopman and his wife Stephanie, Lisa Marasco and husband Ed, James Freeman, Karen Branham and husband Ron, Bill Foppiano, and Mary Fern and husband John; grandchildren, Alexandra Brunnemann (Grandma's love of her life) and husband Frank, Brooke Coopman, Cassie Coopman, Garrett Freeman and wife Maya, Lauren Barragan and husband Rafael, Ryan Branham, Kevin Branham, Rob Foppiano, Christina Poole and husband Walter, and Calvin Ferns; and great-grandchildren, Frankie, Kegan, Ethan, Rory, Rafita and Oliver. "Her passing leaves a deep sorrow but she is now at peace with the Lord. " A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 9:00 a.m.