Whitesville, NY - Charlotte Isabelle Coleman Cooney was born January 15, 1937 and passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. Isabelle was born in her parents’ home in Wileyville, NY and was the only daughter of Thomas and Ruth (McAllister) Coleman. In 1963, at St Mary’s Church in Rexville, NY Isabelle married James Patrick “Pat” Cooney who survives.
Isabelle graduated from Whitesville Central School as the salutatorian of the class of 1954. While in school she was active in various clubs and played basketball. She graduated from Hornell Business School and relocated to Rochester NY to work at Eastman Kodak Inc. Later returning home to work at Worthington Corporation.
Isabelle settled in Whitesville, NY to raise her family. She worked at Fitzpatrick Poultry and was the School Tax Collector. She was skilled at hanging wallpaper and painting and was sought out for her work. Over the years, she helped update many homes in Whitesville. She later attended classes at Alfred State College and worked for the Allegany County Health Department for 15 years, retiring in 2003. Isabelle was a devout Catholic who started and ended her day with prayers and enjoyed reading daily devotions. She was member of the St. John of the Cross parish and later attended Sacred Heart Church. She was a past member of the Independence Emergency Squad, the Pine Twig of the Jones Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, the Secret Pal Club, was a Den Leader for Cub Scouts, and a 4H Leader.
In addition to caring for her children, she enjoyed gardening, knitting, sewing, westerns, and country music. Isabelle was very involved in her children’s education and school activities. She attended every sporting event, concert, school play, became a member of the Parent Advisory Panel and the Parent Teachers Advisory Committee and was active in fundraising. She always made the best items for school bake sales including her popular individual apple pies and fudge. Isabelle was known for her strong work ethic, generosity, kindness, morals, and unselfishness. She was proud of her children and grandchildren. She cherished spending time with family, loved holiday gatherings and always made everyone feel loved.
Isabelle is survived by sons, Ronald (Candy) Cooney of Ulysses, PA, John (Mary Siano) Cooney of Manorville, NY, Dennis (Alison Miyamoto) Cooney of Fullerton, CA; daughters Peggy Cunningham of New Port Richey, FL and Patricia Cooney of Belmont, NY. Grandchildren Colby, Colt, Colin, Katy, Kaley, and Claire, nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Two brothers, Thomas Hugh Coleman of Greenwood, NY and Kenneth (Gerry) Coleman of Mechanicsburg, PA and sister-in-law Jean Coleman of Rexville, NY.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Kelly Cooney, grandson Kenneth Cunningham, brothers Francis and Leo Coleman, sisters-in-law Nancy and Annie and nephews Frankie, Leo, and Thomas Coleman.
Friends are invited to call on Friday February 18th from 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm at the J.W. Embser Sons Funeral Home Inc., 34 W. State St., in Wellsville, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday February 19th at 9:30am, at the Sacred Heart Church in Genesee, PA with the Rev. Joseph Dougherty presiding. Burial will be in the Whitesville Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Independence Emergency Squad or the Whitesville Fire Department. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.