Mary Grace Heller Cope

Mary Grace Heller Cope died January 10, 2021, Yardley, PA. (Alzheimer’s Disease/COVID-19) Mary was born June 10, 1934 in Englewood, NJ. She was extremely proud to be one of the first International exchange students to Germany with American Field Service (AFS) after WWII. She is an Oberlin College graduate and received a masters degree from Radcliffe. In 1957 she married Constantin Cope, M.D. They were married for 59 years. Eventually they ended up living and raising their children in Cheltenham, PA. She was on executive committees for local chapters of: The League of Women Voters, American Cancer Society, AFS-American Field Service, Cheltenham Township Government Study Commission, PTA, School Board Candidate, President of The Cheltenham Adult School, Board member of The Cheltenham Art Center and The Elkins Park Library. Mary was awarded a citation from The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for her exemplary record of service. In 2004, she and her husband retired and spent several happy years enjoying the high desert mountains of Bend, Oregon. She loved her family and friends dearly. She enjoyed: The NY Times Crossword Puzzles, tennis, singing, performing with the Sweet Adelines, playing clarinet in her local senior band in Bend, OR, theater, weight-lifting, traveling, animals and her dogs: Micros, Amelia and Peris.

(Father) George Heller, M.D., (Mother) Dorothy Lubin Heller, M.D., (brother) David L. Heller, (husband) Constantin Cope, M.D. She is survived by (brother) George Heller II (Lucy Messick Heller), (son) Leonard Cope (Susan DelPizzo Cope), (son) Daniel Cope (Dawn Higginson Cope), (daughter) Evelyn Stainthorpe, (daughter) M. Constance Cope Franckle (William Franckle IV, M.D.) and (son) James Cope (Vania Shih). Grandchildren include: Michael Cope, James Cope, Nicholas Cope, Danielle Cope Cox, Timothy Cope, Kevin Cope, Matthew Stainthorpe, Jehna Stainthorpe, Garrett Franckle and Maxwell Franckle. Great Grandchildren include: Caden Cox, Ellie Cox, Jackson Cope, Oliver Cope, Emma Cope and Cecilia Cope. A service will be announced in the future. If you would like to donate in memory: Alzheimer’s Foundation, Animal Shelters/Zoos, Oberlin College or your favorite educational institution.