As received from the Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Shirley A. Arvo, 91, a resident of Houghton, passed away Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Canal View — Houghton County, where she had been a resident patient since this past August.
Shirley Ann (Cooperider) Arvo was born on December 29, 1934, in Unionville Center, Ohio, to William (Lloyd) and Sylvia Aliina (Lassila) Cooperider.
At the age of three, her family moved to Hancock, MI. She was raised in Hancock and graduated from the Hancock High School with the class of 1953. After graduating, she attended Suomi College/ Finlandia University. She moved to Detroit in the summer of 1954 and worked for the AAA Insurance Co.
On January 21, 1956, she was united in marriage to Jack Oscar Arvo and they lived in Detroit until Sept. of 1957, when Jack accepted a job at Michigan Tech., and they moved back to the Copper Country, making their home in Houghton.
She worked part-time at Coast to Coast from 1961-1965 and the Book Concern Printers for one year, part time. In 1967, she worked in Houghton for the Secretary of State Office at the License Bureau, and then became the Branch Manager. In Dec. 1970, she started working for the Houghton-Portage Township Schools as a secretary, retiring in Dec. 1992, after 22 years.
Shirley was a former member of the Suomi College Alumni Board, former member of the Houghton Business and Professional Women’s group, and a member of the Portage Hospital Auxiliary. She sang in the Suomi College Choir. She was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, serving on funeral luncheon groups, the Altar Guild, Social Ministry, and singing at the Medical Care and Cypress. Former member of the Church choir and directed the church choir. She also worked at registration for Relay for Life.
She is survived by her two sons and their families: Michael Arvo (Dorinda) of AZ, and their four children, Aimee Lendon (Michael) and daughter Kendall of OH; Megan Rangel (Albert Ramirez) and children Rosalie, Bennett, and Jeremiah of TX; Heather Schmidt (Matt) and their sons Liam and Noah of CA; Matthew Arvo (Janet) of AZ. Ronald Arvo and his daughter Shannon of Houghton. Daughter-in-law Michele Arvo of TX and her four sons: Daniel Arvo (Lauren) and children William and Scarlett, of TX; Ryan Arvo (Mallory) and children Jack and Anna; Nicholas Arvo and Alexander Arvo of TX. She is also survived by a much-loved nephew, nieces, and several cousins.
She was preceded in death by husband Jack and son James; granddaughter Kelly Anne Arvo; brother William Edward Cooperider; parents William (Lloyd) Cooperider and Sylvia Aliina (Lassila) Cooperider; and special aunt and uncle Helmi and Emil Nivala.
She enjoyed traveling to see her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who were the loves of her life.
A funeral service for Shirley will be held 11:00 am Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Hancock with Rev. Brahm Semmler Smith to officiate. Spring burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery of Houghton.
Friends may call on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 10:00 am until time of services at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Hancock.
To view Shirley’s obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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