Elizabeth "Betty" Cooper

Betty’s sweet spirit left her broken body January 22 to experience total healing of CMT and pulmonary fibrosis from her heavenly Father. Today and forevermore she is talking to, listening to, walking and running with Jesus.

On January 30, 1937, Betty was born and raised on the family farm in Byron Center, the youngest of seven children. She married Tom Cooper, the love of her life and they were together just shy of 53 years. Early on she was a maternity nurse in the newborn nursery at St. Mary's Hospital, however, she devoted most of her life to being a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

Tom entered glory in 2009 and Betty's siblings Steven Lucas, Ethel Niewenhuis, Orma Slater, and Ruth Lucas are there, too. Betty leaves behind her four children: Kathy Cooper, Mark & Jo Cooper, Beth & Joe Stambolija, Paula & Marcos Cersosimo, ten grandchildren: Katie, Chris, Lance, Clare, Molly, Amy, Amanda, Andrew, Lucas, Alex, a brother Leon Lucas, a sister Marge Woltjer, three sister-in-laws: Betty Lucas, Millie Hinken, Esther Wiersma, three brother-in-laws: Cal Niewenhuis, Marv Cooper, Jim Cooper, and twenty-nine nephews and nieces.

Betty loved to garden (people used to stop to look) and play the organ and piano for services at Arcadia Church. Together Betty and Tom enjoyed many travels, a snowbird home in Florida, their retreat on the Christmas tree farm near Lake City, their family and countless friends. There is no doubt Betty had a wonderful life in spite of her later health issues.

Betty’s family thanks the staff (and residents) of Heron Manor Assisted Living and Emmanuel Hospice for their care and support of their Mom.

Betty’s funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 26 at 11 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield Ave NE where friends may visit with her family from 10 - 10:45 AM and for a time immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, PO Box 105, Glenolden, PA 19036. 800-606-2682 www.cmtausa.org. To share a memory or sign her guestbook, visit www.lifestory.com