Margaret (Cooper) Stelling June 16, 1918 – September 6, 2017

On September 6, 2017, God, our loving Father, granted Mom's fervent prayer and took her to Himself. She now knows the peace and serenity of heaven after 99 years on earth.

Margaret Maier was born to Antone and Theresa Maier, June 16, 1918, in the sand hills of Spalding, Nebraska, the fourth of eight children. Mom completed eight years of school while doing farm chores, 4-H projects, and enjoying her favorite pastime of horseback riding. At age 19, she moved with her family to Yakima, Washington where she worked cleaning houses. Later, she met and married Charles Cooper on January 1, 1940. Together they had three sons and three daughters, namely Gary, Karen, Terry, Carley, Tim and Carol. While Dad worked in the concrete industry, Mom toiled diligently and tirelessly as housewife and mother on a 40 acre farm in Selah, Washington. When the kids were all in school, she went to work at St. Paul's Catholic School, Yakima, serving hot lunches in the cafeteria, and later as a seamstress in her sister's drapery shop. After the farm was sold, Mom and Dad had more leisure time and spent weekends camping at Goose Prairie. It was there that Mom and Dad met Chris Orem, who later became Mom's God-daughter and a welcomed sister to the family. As the years passed and the children were all married, Mom and Dad moved to Benton City on yet another farm in 1972. Unfortunately, Dad was stricken with cancer and passed away in 1976 at age 59. Because Mom's faith was so strong, she carried on courageously thanking God for the many blessings she had received over the years. She tried new endeavors such as managing an apartment complex for friends in Yakima, and then returning to Benton City where she worked at the local drug store.  It was there she met her second husband, Arney Stelling, and they were married in October of 1991. Mom retired from the drug store and devoted the next fifteen years to Arney until he passed away in 2006.  Throughout all of Mom's years, because of her deep faith in God, she has been our shining example and left us with a legacy of faith, hope and love.  She touched every person that God placed in her path through life, and left joy, peace and her heart-warming smile. Thank you, God, for the gift of her in our lives. We have been truly blessed.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Antone and Theresa Maier; her siblings - Therese Maier, Jerome Maier, Angela Mullins, Monica Devries, Maxine Powers, Bernard Maier, Larry Maier; first husband, Charles T. Cooper; second husband, Arnold W. Stelling; daughter-in-law, Linda Baruffi Cooper. She is survived by her children: Gary (Cate Siejk) Cooper, Karen (Chuck) Smith, Terry (Beth) Cooper, Carley (Ron) Tolotti, Tim (Lynn) Cooper, Carol (Darrell) Mccaffery, and God-daughter Chris Orem; 21 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

The family extends their sincere heartfelt gratitude for the tender  loving care that Mom received over the past years from caregivers Coby Marionos, Maria and Margarita Enriquez, the TriCities Retirement Inn management and staff, the medical team and staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, and the staff of Chaplaincy Hospice House where Mom spent her last hours. May God bless you all.

Private viewing for family only. Funeral services will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1420 W. Henry St., Pasco including a Vigil/Rosary on Wednesday, September 13th, 6:00 pm and the Mass of Christian Burial on Thursday, September 14th, at 11:00 am. A luncheon reception will follow in the South Rooms of St. Patrick Gymnasium, westside of parking lot. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity in memory of Mom.