Donna Marie Cooper

COOPER, Donna Marie - (September 18, 1963 - May 2, 2009). It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Donna Cooper of Guelph, Ontario, after a long battle against cancer. She is now at peace and it eases the sadness we feel, to know that she is no longer suffering. Donna was born in Windsor, Ontario, the beloved daughter of the late Dr. Donald Cooper (of Billings, Montana) and Mary Fretz (nee Parson, of Guelph). She will be deeply missed by her step-mother, Colleen Cooper (of Billings) and her step-father, Dr. Norman Fretz (of Guelph). Donna worked at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Windsor where she was a ward clerk for 14 years, until she relocated to Guelph in 2005 and worked with Shopper's Home Health Care. She always cared for others and their well-being and this was reflected in the work she did. Donna loved traveling, had a passion for photography, painting and interior decorating, and was an avid gardener. She was a fan of Formula One racing, and she loved good food, good wine and good company. Her loving spirit will be cherished by her spouse, Robert Gellner and her three step-children, Carlee, Timothy and Jessica (of Guelph). Her memory will live in the hearts of her brothers, Timothy Cooper (his spouse Debra, of Windsor), David Cooper (of Windsor), William Cooper (of London, Ontario), Eric Fretz (his spouse Michele of Victoria, British Colombia) and her sister, Marianne Schmitt (her spouse Patrick, of La Roche sur Foron, France). Her spirit will be cherished by her nieces and nephews, Matthew and Alison Cooper, Steven and Colleen Cooper, Jessica Cooper, Stephanie Cooper, Shannon Cooper, Cheryl Cooper, Anna Fretz, Katherine Fretz and Alexandra Schmitt. Her kindness will be remembered by her Aunt Georgina Whitehead (of Toronto) and cousins, Bill Whitehead (his spouse Marion and their son Issac, of Guelph) and Dorothy Whitehead (of Toronto). She will also be deeply missed by her beloved dog, Annie. The family expresses their sincere thanks to Dr. Anna Hajduk, Bayshore Health Care, HLO Health Services, Hospice Wellington, Canadian Red Cross Community Health Services, and the friends and neighbours of the Village by the Arboretum. A memorial service will be held at the Gilbert MacIntyre and Son Funeral Home, Hart Chapel, 1099 Gordon St., Guelph, N1G 4X9, Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 1 p.m., to be followed by a reception. For more information and in lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to a charity of choice (cards are available at the funeral home 519-821-5077 or send condolences at www.gilbertmacintyreandson.com).

A memorial service will be held in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 1 p.m.