Calgary family of late Diane Cooper paying donations forward

The family of an 82-year-old Calgary woman who went missing — and met a tragic end — are paying it forward.

They plan to share donations made in memory of Diane Cooper with another family facing a similar, terrifying search for a loved one. 

Cooper vanished from her northwest Calgary home on April 6. Despite intense searches by police, her family and the community, she wasn’t found until nearly two weeks later.

A motorist spotted the woman by her vehicle along a rural Saskatchewan road. It was too late for any life-saving efforts. Police say Cooper’s death is a tragedy but no longer a police matter, with no foul play suspected. 

Her dog, Halo, was alive and at her side.

Cooper’s granddaughter, Zoe Cooper, says they want to help others facing a similar, heartbreaking search to bring a loved one home — maybe even help them toward a different outcome. 

Zoe says her grandma’s life is not defined by her death, adding she was living with undiagnosed dementia, which had “slowly taken pieces of her over the past few years.”

Cooper loved knitting, crocheting, cooking, winemaking and jigsaw puzzles.

“At her core, she was a true dog lover and knew every dog at the park by name, even if she never quite remembered their owners,” Zoe says. “She was introverted but deeply valued her close friendships.

“She never liked attention or asked for praise — she simply loved hard and showed up for the people in her life, quietly and consistently. In her passing, she received a level of recognition she never sought but always deserved.”

The grieving granddaughter says the search for her grandmother was stressful and terrifying for her family. 

“People go missing every day. Nothing about what we went through was rare,” Zoe says.

“We are hoping the funds for the charity help aid other families and bring their loved ones home, and giving them the answers they desperately deserve. Other families deserve support to  help find their people, too.”