CANTWELL-ZIPF, Sherry

Sherry Cantwell-Zipf, 55, passed away peacefully at home/Kavanagh House Hospice in West Des Moines, Iowa on May 14, 2018.

Sherry was born January 31, 1963 and lived her childhood on the family farm in Bras d’Or, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. She was married on March 11th, 2004 to David Zipf in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Her heart was big and her generosity limitless, always thinking of others before herself. She loved to read, put together puzzles, crosswords, travel, gardening, creating personalized Valentines/Easter/ May Day baskets for the neighborhood kids and most of all decorating, dressing up and handing out treats on her favorite ‘holiday’ Halloween.

Sherry will be missed by David, her husband of 14 years; her family residing in Canada; mother, Leona ‘Frankie’ Francis, Bras d’Or, N.S.; father, William ‘Murray’ (preceded Sherry); brothers, Glenn (Nancy), Boularderie, N.S., Kirk (Judy), Bras d’Or, N.S., Vaughn (Marie), Ingonish, N.S., and Craig (predeceased in infancy); sisters, Vicky (Craig) Martin, Cole Harbour, N.S., Lynn (Dave) Gillan, Burton, N.B. and Kelly, Calgary, AB. She will also be missed by her second family (Zipfs) in the “lower Canadian (US) provinces” as well as her ‘children’ Ceilidh and Caoimhe, her Border Collies who helped her through her fight with cancer.

A memorial gathering and celebration for family and friends in the United States was held at the Iles Funeral Home Dunn’s Chapel, 2121 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa.

A reception to celebrate Sherry’s life for family and friends in Canada will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 7, 2018 at the Bras d’Or Community Hall on Villa Dr., Bras d’Or (behind St. Joseph’s Parish).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions suggested to cancer research or any children’s charities. Her favorite was sponsoring children through Save The Children.

A private committal service will be held for immediate family at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Bras d’Or.ve The Children.