Eugenia R. "Genie" Cooke

WEST YARMOUTH — Eugenia R. "Genie" Cooke, of West Yarmouth, died of cancer on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, at the age of 66.

Born Eugenia Clair Riordan, to the late Eugene L. (a World War I veteran) and Mary A. (Halpin) Riordan, on April 1, 1942, in Newark, N.J., Genie graduated from Framingham High School in 1959 and from the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing in 1963. She married Gilmore "Gil" G. Cooke on Jan. 5, 1991, in Framingham and together they recently retired to West Yarmouth.

Genie's career was spent as an RN nurturing others. From 1963 to 1976, she worked at the Center for Blood Research in Boston. She worked as the supervisor of the Cryo Preservation Lab at Children's Hospital Boston, beginning in 1976 and became their quality assurance supervisor in 1996. She was affiliated with, and was published in, the American and Massachusetts Associations of Blood Banks.

Genie retired from Children's Hospital on April 1, 2007, when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. It was with great sadness that she left behind the many children who touched her heart, and whose hearts were touched by her, as well as her many dear friends and colleagues, many of whom stayed in touch and provided support during her short retirement and illness.

Genie had an easy laugh, a twinkle in her eye, and a mischievously crooked and endearing smile. She was an avid plant enthusiast, relentlessly raising begonias in her basement, and was an active member of the Buxton Branch, American Begonia Society for many years, serving as president and national director. She was also active in the New England Chapter of the American Gloxinia & Gesneriad Society, as well as a volunteer with Cape Cod Community College's Academy for Lifelong Learning.

Genie is survived by her loving husband, Gil; son, Jeffrey of Marlborough; stepsons, Phillip of Framingham, and Matthew of Los Angeles; grandson, Jesse; brother-in-law, James Bush of Marlborough; nephews, Mark and Greg Bush; nieces, Kathleen and Eugenia Bush, and Jacqueline Bush Flynn; sister-in-law, Shirley Hawkes and her husband Steve of Brantford, Ontario; as well as her niece, Kim Hawkes. She is also survived by her many great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as so many good and longtime friends who loved her dearly. She also leaves her much-loved dog, Bono.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Patricia Bush.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 10, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Morris & O'Connor Funeral Home, 58 Long Pond Drive, South Yarmouth. A funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 10 a.m., at St. Pius X Parish, Station Avenue, South Yarmouth. Friends and family are welcome to a collation after the funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in memory of Mrs. Eugenia Cooke to Salvation Army Community Center, 100 North Street, Hyannis, MA 02601.

For guest book, please visit www.MorrisOConnor.com.