Mrs. Cora Ellen Cooney

Cora Ellen Cooney, age 90, passed away on July 1, 2021. “I would like to be remembered as a person who cared. It’s the extra things you do in life that count. I like people for who they are and have always tried to be good and helpful to them.” - Cora Ellen Cooney Cora Ellen Kirchner was born on December 31, 1930 in Pittsfield, MA, daughter to the late James Kirchner and Dorothy Hunt Kirchner. She was married to John P. Cooney on January 5 ,1952 with whom she celebrated 69 years of marriage. She attended local schools and graduated from Dalton High School in 1948. She went on to nursing school at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, graduating as a registered nurse in 1951. Cora leaves behind four children -Daniel, Teresa, Thomas and James, her husband “Jack,” twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Cora worked most of her nursing career at the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association. She also worked part-time as a school nurse. Upon her retirement from the Berkshire VNA, she initiated a foot care program which she dedicated her time to up to the age of eighty-five. She enjoyed her career as a registered nurse caring for and meeting people. She received numerous nursing awards throughout her career and served as the Board of Health coordinator at the VNA for 10 years. Cora lived on Kirchner Road her entire life. She was the only child of James and Dot Kirchner and made all her cousins the Hunts and Whery’s her brothers and sisters. Her childhood of growing up on the farm, riding horses and being part of a dairy farm were cherished memories. She was the official family historian for both the Kirchner and Cooney clans. She dedicated her life to family, faith and friends. Cora attended to many people in her work as a nurse and served as a eucharistic minister at Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield. She enjoyed trips abroad to Ireland and Germany cultivating family connections. She had a love of people and community and worked selflessly for others throughout her entire life. Her legendary warmth, love and joy touched everyone she met. Cora died peacefully at home surrounded by her family and loved ones. The family would like to thank the wonderful team at HospiceCare in The Berkshires for their outstanding care. Funeral Notice: Funeral services for Mrs. Cora E. Cooney will be Wednesday, July 7, 2021, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will follow at Ashuelot Street Cemetery. An hour of visitation will be held prior to the service, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Dwyer-Wellington Funeral Home, 220 East Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to HospiceCare in the Berkshires or to Sacred Heart Church in care of the Dwyer-Wellington Funeral Home, 220 East Street, Pittsfield, MA, 01201, in her memory.

Mrs. Cora Ellen Cooney

December 31, 1930 - July 1, 2021