Susan Cooper Birch

Susan Cooper Birch, age 86, of Millcreek Twp., died Monday, October 27, 2008 at Westlake Woods Assisted Living Community after a brief illness. She was born on January 29, 1922 in Erie, the daughter of the late, Harry and Helen Beck Cooper.

She graduated from Academy High School and was a supervisor at the Bell Telephone Co. before her marriage in 1950 to her late husband, John H. Birch, a retired vice-president of the old First National Bank of PA. She also worked at the Gallery Gift and Floral Shop in Lawrence Park. Susan enjoyed crafts, cards, reading, music, and traveling. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant. She also was an associate member of the Hamot Aid Society.

She is survived by her son, Alan Birch and his wife Patricia, of Millcreek, one granddaughter, Kristie R. Mansilla and her husband, Alberto, of Orlando, FL, two great grandchildren, Caroline and Jack Alexander of Orlando, FL, two sisters, Lynette Pearce of Gainesville, FL, Helen Heisler of Erie, two nieces, Marilyn Pearce of Harrisburg, PA, Patricia Urbano of Gainesville, FL, two nephews, Jay Pearce, of Greensboro, NC, and Matthew Overton of Gainesville, FL. She was preceded in death by one brother, Robert Cooper.

Friends may call at the Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home, Inc. 4216 Sterrettania Rd. on Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited there on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. for the funeral service conducted by the Rev. Stephen Morse. Interment Laurel Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 1645 West 8th St. Erie, PA 16505.