Betty Cooper died peacefully the morning of June 30. Her 4 children and their spouses along with some grandkids and great-grand kids had spent much of the previous day with her as she requested.
Betty was born in Shamokin, PA and grew up in that area. She met her husband, Ed, at age 18, married at 19, and became a mother at 21. Ed was a minister and the family moved from Pennsylvania to upper New York, to North Carolina, to New Jersey, to Massachusetts, back to Pennsylvania, and back again to New Jersey. Betty was Ed's personal assistant and a dedicated pastor's wife, a caring and nurturing Mom, Gram and "GG" as the kids, grandkids and great grandkids were added to the family.
Ed and Betty retired to Ft. Collins, Colorado in 1986. They surrounded themselves with friends and relatives, and volunteered at Lifepointe Church and in nursing homes. With Ed's death in 2003, Betty soon moved to an apartment at Oakbrook II where she made a warm and cozy home and many friends. Her apartment was often compared to a college dorm room because of so many coming and going. She spent her final months in the excellent and compassionate care of the professionals at Lemay Health & Rehabilitation and Pathways Hospice.
Betty was a woman of resilience who accepted her physical challenges with grace and a determination to make the best of her life without Ed. She read voraciously across genres and grew to understand and accept all people as valuable, regardless of differences. She often said that she was "never bored", spending her time visiting with friends, reading, sending cards and notes to folks all over the country, following sports (Steelers, Pirates, Broncos and Rockies mostly) and being with family.
Preceded in death by her loved husband, Betty is survived by her four children: David Cooper Denver, CO; Amy Genberg (Dale), Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey; Paul Cooper (Sue), Fort Collins, CO; and Tim Cooper (Kira) La Mesa CA. She is also survived by her six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. She loved and supported each without condition.
A memorial will be scheduled at a later date.