Nancy Carol Albert Cooper died peacefully in her sleep on Oct. 25, 2024, in Killington Vermont. She was born on June 11, 1941, to Virginia (McCandless) and Huber Albert in Butler, PA. She graduated from Slippery Rock High School in 1959 and Slippery Rock College in 1962. That same year, she married Robert Cooper in a Christmas themed wedding on Dec. 22. The couple moved to Syracuse. where Nancy taught fourth grade for seven years until starting her family. She had four daughters, Beth, Jill, Kristen and Kate and they settled in the suburb of Fayetteville, where all four girls graduated from high school. Nancy embraced motherhood and built her life around her family and circle of friends.
In 1997, Nancy moved to Atlanta, GA, to be close to her young grandkids. Although she spent over a decade employed as an executive assistant, her purpose was always being Nana to her grandkids. Locally, she enjoyed Sarah, Matthew and Joey but also drove to Florida to visit Zach and Gabe. These were precious years for Nana and she commemorated her time with them with exquisite handmade crafts, collections, Christmas quilts and books, to name a few.
Nancy’s dedication to family continued into another chapter when she returned to Butler to help her 93-year-old mother, who was no longer able to live in her home independently. This act of love turned into a three-year stay, broken up with weeks-long visits from her brother Rodger. During this time, while caretaking, Nancy was able to rekindle old relationships with friends and work on her new passion for genealogy research. She spent countless hours online and in person at the Butler Area Public Library, diving deep into the nine generations of our family roots, taking notes, adding to an expansive excel spreadsheet she created for the sole purpose of posterity.
By 2020, Nancy’s health began to deteriorate and the signs of dementia were becoming more pronounced. For the first time in her life, this strong, selfless, independent woman had to rely on her four daughters. All agreed that a move to Vermont to be closer to Jill and Kristen would be best. After decades in a warm climate and now in Vermont, Nancy was able to experience the nostalgia of a snowy white Christmas while surrounding herself with her Christmas treasures. This move also allowed her to reconnect with her brother Rodger, who trekked to Vermont with daughter Sue twice each year to celebrate her birthday and Christmas tree trimming. Her greatest love was to be with family for the holidays and special occasions.
Our family would like to thank the compassionate women at The Shard Villa, Addison County Home Health and Hospice and at Vista Senior Living in Vermont for taking care of our mother in her final years. We are grateful for their knowledge, patience, love and dedication to our mom and others who suffer from this disease.
She is survived by her brother Rodger Albert of Syracuse and his three children and his 11 grandkids; Valerie (Jim) Lardy of California, Sue Bang of Syracuse and Scott (Christin) Albert of Syracuse; her daughters, Beth (Michael) DeMaria of Georgia and their children Sarah Christine of Utah, Matthew Benjamin of New Mexico, Joseph Michael or Oregon. Daughter Jill (Patrick) Dunn of Vermont and their sons Zachary Albert of Vermont, and Gabriel McCandless of North Carolina, daughter Kristen Cooper of Vermont and Kate Henrys of Florida with partner Greg Whitley and his son Logan Oliver Whitley.
Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, Virginia and Huber Albert of Butler, PA, and her remains will be laid to rest, with them at a private family gathering at Greenlawn Burial Estates, 731 West Old Rt 422 Butler PA 16001.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 2:30 p.m. at the Mount Chestnut Presbyterian Church with refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall, 727 West Old Rt 422 Butler, PA 16001.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Nancy’s name to the Butler Area Public Library 218 N. McKean St Butler, PA 16001 butlerlibrary.info.
