The two children of a slain woman will be taken back to their mother's hometown of Edmonton where they will be eventually told of her death, the family announced today.

The parents of Nancy Cooper appeared once more at a press conference Friday in North Carolina, saying the two little girls do not yet know of their mother's murder.

Cooper's father, Garry Rentz, said the family will be meeting with grief counselors Friday to discuss the best ways to break the news to four-year-old Bella and one-year-old Katie.

"We as humans are pretty adaptive and I think our children always can make adaptations we doubt," Rentz said. "I think the girls will come through this well if we handle it well."

Rentz and the family are in North Carolina, where police are continuing their investigation of Cooper's death.

The 34-year-old mother of two young children was found dead last weekend after she went missing from her home in Cary -- an upscale bedroom community of Raleigh, N.C.

Cooper grew up in Edmonton and moved to the U.S. eight years ago after her husband, Brad Cooper, was hired with Cisco Systems.

As the murder investigation continues, the Rentz family is making plans to fly back to Edmonton Sunday.

The family said they will hold a public memorial service for Nancy on Wednesday at Edmonton's Grace Lutheran Church.

The couple then plans to return back to Cary, N.C., on July 25 for a hearing to determine whether a judge will grant them permanent custody of the children.

A petition filed earlier this week by the Rentz claims Brad Cooper is unstable and under "intense scrutiny ... as a result of the ongoing criminal investigation of Nancy Cooper's murder."

Police have said the custody of the children is a civil matter unrelated to their homicide investigation. They have remained steadfast in saying Cooper has fully co-operated with police. Investigators have not named any persons of interest or suspects.

Seth Bloom, a lawyer for Brad Cooper, asked reporters on Friday to respect his client's privacy.

"He's not accustomed to the hot glare of the media spotlight," said Bloom. "He never dreamed that he would see his face splashed across television news shows, nor his name in headlines -- especially not in these terrible circumstances.

"Brad Cooper is also a man in mourning. He's lost his wife. He's grieving."

Meanwhile, family and friends of Cooper say she was an "elegant" friend who was genuinely concerned about those around her.

Cooper's brother Jeff Rentz said she was always "quick with a smile" and "was a great mom" to two little girls.

Rentz said the family has been speaking to neighbours about his sister, and he's not surprised how quickly she rooted herself in her new community.

"She made close friends very easily. That's been readily apparent since we've been down here," he said.

Cooper's friend and neighbour Diana Duncan said the young mom always made her friends laugh "with the goofiest things."

"She was tall, elegant, gorgeous ... she was also the kind of friend that would not let you be silent if you were upset about something," Duncan said.

On Wednesday, police removed six bags of evidence from the Cooper family home after executing a search warrant.

A private service for close family and friends is planned this evening in Cary.

The family will also be setting up a trust fund for the two girls, more information on the fund will be made public next week.

With files from CTV.ca News Staff and The Canadian Press