Bertelle Siopes Copley, 72, of Mechanicsville, VA (formerly of Lowell), passed away at home on December 20, 2025, after a battle with metastatic cancer. Preceded in death by her husband, Robert ‘Bob’ Copley, parents Demitrios and F. Bertelle (Tibbetts) Siopes, and brothers, James & Thomas Siopes.
She is survived by her three children, sons Robert and Sean Copley, and daughter Bertelle Bunyard (Chad), as well as four grandchildren (Cameron, Kayla, Logan, and Hayden), and two great-grandchildren, all of whom reside in Virginia. She is also survived by siblings, Paul Siopes (Jeanne), Demetra Phair (Chuck), Bill Siopes (Sue), Keith Siopes, Kim Pekkala (Rick), and many in-laws, cousins, nieces, and nephews, many of the Greater Lowell Area.
Bertelle was born in Boston and raised in Lowell. She was a 1971 graduate of Lowell High and went on to graduate from UMass Lowell. In 1976, Bertelle and her husband moved to Dover, NH, and welcomed their three children before following employment to Virginia in 1987. By career, Bertelle was a registered nurse for almost 50 years, working in various settings, but her passion was working in home health care, where she worked for many decades.
Bertelle was a smart and caring person. She was a participating member at Catholic churches throughout her lifetime, including being one of the founding members who worked to start St. Olaf Catholic church in Williamsburg, VA. She loved attending church, cooking, sewing, shopping, theater, festivals, dogs, and most of all spending time with her family. Bertelle always tried to lend a helping hand where she was able, but her favorite was cooking for visitors and gatherings.
Bertelle will be laid to rest alongside her husband on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, beginning with an 11:00 AM mass at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 144 E Merrimack St, Lowell, MA, and followed by burial at the Lowell Cemetery.