Marcella Agnes Cook

Marcella Agnes Cook January 6, 1926 – October 23, 2024

Marcella was born in Brainard, Nebraska to Joseph and Agnes (Polak) Rolenc and raised on a farm near Brainard. She attended a country schoolhouse for 2 years and then completed grade school at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Brainard. After graduating from Assumption H.S. in Dwight, Nebraska, she attended a business college in Lincoln. She did secretarial work at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture, and later at a Ford dealership. 

While in Lincoln, she met the love of her life Morris L. Cook. They were married September 4, 1948 and moved to Denver, Colorado. In 1954, they settled in Aurora, where they raised their four children and enjoyed a wonderful, adventurous life together for over 62 years.

Marcy was a loving wife and mother, devout Catholic and the faith foundation of her family. She took great pride in being a founding member of St. Pius X Parish in Aurora, Colorado. She was an active leader of the parish community for decades. Her significant volunteer activities included serving on the Parish Council, School Board, and Women’s Guild. In addition, she made Baptism gowns, organized a group to clean the church weekly, cooked and served funeral dinners and coordinated numerous fundraising events. She served as a Eucharistic Minister for 30 years, including taking communion to seniors at the Sable Care Center. 

With Morris traveling frequently for business, Marcy was a constantly on-the-go mom with her four children being active in school and playing sports. She was a fabulous homemaker, skilled seamstress and a truly incredible cook. Always proud of her Czech heritage and farm upbringing, she loved to grow flowers and vegetables in her garden and bake various Czech delights, including kolaches; a family favorite. 

After Morris retired, they took a vacation to Australia and New Zealand. Shortly after, in 1992, an article in the Denver Catholic Register described a Denver-area travel group led by Fr. John Gibbons. Morris and Marcy joined the group for a trip to Greece, which opened the door for subsequent trips to China, Scandinavia, Russia, central Europe, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Jerusalem, Jordan, Egypt, and Great Britain. They also enjoyed cruises to Alaska and the Panama Canal, and visited almost all 50 states touring museums, battle fields, and an occasional golf course for Morris.

In their later years, Marcy and Morris wrote their life-stories, which they titled “Blame it on the Donuts,” and had it printed for their family members. The book is a loving, treasured recap of their lives. 

Marcy’s love will forever be cherished in the lives of her children: William Cook (Spring, TX), Carol (James) Lemon (McCook, NE), Steven (Janine) Cook (Tampa, FL) and Kenneth (Tracy) Cook (Longmont, CO); grandchildren Justin, Jennifer, Katie, Erin, Samantha, Karly, and Zachary; 14 great-grandchildren; her sister, Sr. Anita Rolenc, sister-in-law Ruth Cook and brother-in-law Robert Voboril and a host of loving family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Morris, sisters Pauline Voboril and Sr. Karen Rolenc, brother-in-law W. Thomas Cook, granddaughter Kimberly (Lee) Maum and great-grandson Riley Preece.