Cooper, Avril

Avril Cooper, 86, formerly of Barrington, Ill., died Monday, April 5, 2010, at Windmill Manor in Coralville. Avril chose cremation. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City. The family will greet friends after 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington Cemetery in Elmhurst, Ill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice.

Avril was born Dec. 19, 1923, in Oak Park, Ill., the daughter of Albert and Katherine (Gastel) Hahn Sr. She held fond memories of growing up in Melrose Park, first living above her grandpa's shoe store. She enjoyed adventures to the family farm in Buckley, to Maxwell Street in Chicago, and taking the train downtown to see the Christmas lights at Marshall Field and eating at Berghoff's. After graduation from high school she worked at the American Can Company Research Lab in Maywood. During World War II she served as a hostess at the Chicago Service Men's Center and her family often used their rations to serve home-cooked meals to visiting servicemen. Avril met Howard Jay Cooper while working at the can company and married him on April 25, 1959. When they moved to Barrington, Avril was active with the women's groups at Atonement Lutheran Church. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crafts. 

She will be remembered for her smile and giving nature. 

Survivors include her daughter, Linda Jo Cooper-Brown and her husband, Douglas Brown, of Coralville; two grandsons, Christopher and William Brown, both of Coralville; niece, Lisa (Hahn) O'Reilly and her husband, Tim, of Downer's Grove, Ill.; plus all of the friends who were like family to her. 

Avril was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and one brother. 

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