Lynne M.Cooper D.Min. Obituary

Lynne M. Cooper, D.Min., passed away peacefully at her home on Sat., Mar. 16, 2013 at the age of 61 after a long but brave battle with pancreatic cancer. Lynne was one of the founders of DOORWAYS, an Interfaith, HIV/AIDS homeless ministry and served as its long-time President and most recently President Emeritus. She was preceded in death by her parents William Sr., and Olga Cooper, and brothers William Cooper, Jr. and Ralph Cooper. Lynne is survived by her siblings, Iris (Cooper) McCoy, Paula (Cooper) Watson and Clark Cooper and a host of nieces and nephews. Lynne was born in Greenville, SC on April 6, 1951 and spent her early childhood with her family in the Jacksonville, FL area. Her family then moved to Atlanta, GA where she graduated from St. Joseph's High school. Lynne's undergraduate degree was from Fontbonne University. She held a Master's degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Eden Seminary. Lynne's interest in HIV/AIDS began during her pastoral care residency at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans in 1985. In 1988, she and other community and faith leaders founded DOORWAYS, an Interfaith AIDS Residence Program to address the housing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. Lynne served on numerous state and national boards, including President Clinton's Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, the National AIDS Housing Coalition and the Missouri Children's Trust Fund. She volunteered her time and talent at The Women's Safe House and assisted in the startup of The Community Wellness Project. Lynne's humanitarian work reached many corners of the U.S. and several countries in Africa. In recent years, Lynne spearheaded the development of a birthing center in Gulu, Uganda. This dream of beginning construction and assisting expectant mothers is now nearly a reality, thanks to her vision and dedication.

Services: An Interfaith Memorial Service, Friday, April 5, at 7 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Pl., St. Louis, 63108. A Catholic Mass for Family, Close Friends and Sisters, Saturday, April 6, at 11 a.m. at Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, 6400 Minnesota Ave, St. Louis, 63111. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to DOORWAYS for the Lynne Cooper Initiative for At-Risk Youth, 4385 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108 or for the birthing center in Gulu, Uganda in c/o The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, 6400 Minnesota Ave, St. Louis, MO 63111 Attn: Development Department/ Gulu Birthing Center.

Lynne died peacefully at 8:10pm this evening

After a life-long commitment to social justice and a heroic, 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer, Lynne passed on this evening.  She was comfortable and at home in her bed with Sister Jo at her side.  We will post details about her memorial soon.

Whee!

My doctor, Andrea Wang Gillam, told Donn, JoAnn and me today that the medicines I am on have reduced the number and sizes of the tumors in my liver, pancreas and abdomen. She also took me off of some of the more irritating oral meds. It made us all feel more comfortable about JoAnn going back to Africa soon to continue her work and kick start the construction of the Maternity Clinic. In the meantime it's a big hurrah and a promise of more time to spend my nieces and nephews' inheritance!

Walleye pike

We didn't catch it but we hope to eat one just like it.

Spending time with Arch & Deb in Michigan

There will be no boating this year, but we might get in a little ice fishing!

The front of the house

Our front yard and frozen lake

Front porch and lake from inside house.

Finalizing maternity ward plans

Jo with Frank and Pat Hasse finalizing maternity ward plans

Love Conquers All and Dog Whisperer

Today was a chemo day, and everything went smoothly. Because some of my counts were down, they reduced the amount of the chemo drug which has that negative effect. I have also begun a new chemo I take in a daily pill, called Tarceva. I am getting some of the side effects like a rash on my face, mild nausea, mild headaches, and so on. The doctor says these are good signs that the drug is taking effect, and I am hoping the diarrhea symptom kicks in, at least for a little while, because I am having the opposite problem.

Because this is not a very entertaining update, we have included a little picture story about JoAnn and Alison and Mary Sue's dog, Roxie. If you know Jo well, you know that she has a feeling toward most dogs, especially big dogs, somewhere between fear and dislike, until she gets to know them. Roxie outweighs JoAnn significantly, so it is a great accomplishment that they have made such good friends.   ~  Lynne