The death of Nancy Cooper, a 34-year-old mother from Cary, is leading newspapers and television news programs across the Canadian province.

"We feel like she's one of ours," said Janice Johnston, a reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in Edmonton. "Like this is something that's happened to us."

Nancy Cooper grew up in a suburb of Edmonton, a city in northern Alberta. Her husband Bradley Cooper hails from Medicine Hat, a town toward the south. They met and married in Calgary.

The Coopers moved to Cary eight years ago as a young couple. Bradley Cooper accepted a job transfer with Cisco Systems. They had two daughters here.

Their parents and siblings stayed behind in Canada.

Nancy Coopers' parents run an adult education business in Edmonton, and her father, Garry Rentz, formerly headed Alberta Social Services. Her brother, Jeff Rentz, is a police officer in Edmonton. Her two sisters remained there, too.

Bradley Cooper's family still lives in Medicine Hat. Terry Cooper, Bradley's father, is the vice president of academics at Medicine Hat College. His brother works there, too.

Canadian reporters have scurried about this week, trying to trace Nancy and Bradley Coopers' footprints in Alberta.

Soon, the story will come to them. The family is planning Nancy Cooper's funeral there.