Mary Corrigan Cooper

Mary was born on August 22, 1927 in Cleveland to Daniel Corrigan and Florence Bauhaus. She moved to Beltsville, Maryland as a child and rode the streetcar with her brother to Holy Redeemer Catholic School. She graduated from St. Mildred's Academy and attended Strayer College.

She began working at IBM in 1951 as a secretary in Washington, D.C. Over the years, Mary had several promotions and transfers within IBM, the last one to Manassas, VA when her husband retired and the family moved to a farm in Front Royal, VA in 1973. During her career, she received the IBM Means Service Award, 21 suggestion awards and became a member of the IBM Quarter Century Club. In 1982, she retired after 30 years with IBM.

After retirement, Mary became more active in the community; she was a past officer of the Business and Professional Women's Club and the Warren County Fair Association. She was a charter member of the Front Royal Garden Club. Mary was active in the St. John's Parish Council of Catholic Women and she was a member of the building committee for the new church.

Mary was well known for her delicious meals, Christmas Cookie Exchanges, and Longaberger basket parties! For 27 years, Mary played bridge with a wonderful group of ladies and she rarely missed a Tuesday bridge night!

She is survived by her daughters, Mary Kay O’Dea Kerr of College Park, MD, and Carrie Cooper Buraker of Fredericksburg, VA; granddaughters, Kirsten Knowles (Duane) of Pompano Beach, FL, Kara Lloyd (David) of Stevensville, MD, and Katelyn Buraker of Fredericksburg, VA; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert D. Cooper and brother, Daniel Corrigan.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2015, from 2–4 pm and 6–8 pm at Turner-Robertshaw Funeral Home, 1200 N. Shenandoah Avenue, Front Royal, VA 22630. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 22, 2015; at 11 am at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 120 W. Main Street, Front Royal, VA 22630. Interment will occur on Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 1 pm at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20906. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church or the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060.