Madeline Jane Cooper
December 17, 1934 – December 19, 2024
Madeline Jane Cooper passed away peacefully at Matthews House Hospice in Alliston on Thursday, December 19, 2024, just two days after her 90th birthday. Jane’s courage and quiet determination enabled her to carry on while battling cancer, with her cherished calico cat Perdita by her side.
She was a loving wife and best friend to Reed (d. 2006), and a devoted mother to her daughters Sheila (Steve McCutcheon) and Lisa (Richard Ritson). She was much loved by her granddaughters Renée and Brenna McCutcheon and Julianne Ritson. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Jane grew up as a quiet, shy child who loved books and cats.
Jane’s life was full of rich experiences, from attending Prince Rupert School in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, after World War II, to earning her B.A. at McMaster University and later her Master of Library Science at the University of Toronto while raising two daughters. Jane enjoyed a successful career as a librarian, culminating in her role as head of circulation at Robarts Library, University of Toronto.
After retiring, Jane and Reed moved to their country house in the Mulmur Hills. Jane dedicated her time to organizing gallery shows, tending to her garden, and volunteering for various organizations including Hospice Dufferin and the Dufferin County Museum. A passionate lover of books, Jane was an active member of book clubs and writing groups, writing short stories, columns, and a novel. She was a devoted parishioner of St. Clement’s Anglican Church in Toronto and later St. Luke’s in Rosemont.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, 508551 Hwy 89, Rosemont. Following the service, family and friends are invited to Drury Funeral Centre, 519 Victoria St. E., Alliston, for fellowship and refreshments from 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Special thanks to Jane’s caregivers, the staff at Hennick Bridgepoint and Mount Sinai hospitals, SE Health, and Matthews House Hospice.
Arrangements entrusted to Drury Funeral Centre. Donations in Jane’s memory may be made to Matthews House Hospice or St. Luke’s Anglican Church.
