Arlene Cooper

Arlene walked through life rejoicing in the Lord and His promises, steadfastly knowing that He is "My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust" (Psalm 91:2).
Arlene Cooper, 84, of Mansfield, Ohio, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior on May 22, 2024.
Born on September 2, 1939 to Emil and Anna Thomas, Arlene consistently demonstrated loving kindness and tender generosity towards all those around her, giving of herself for the encouragement and support of others. She was a delight to those whose lives she touched, her passion and love for Christ, and her faith and trust in Him, revealed through her daily life. Finding the ultimate comfort and peace in His Word and the promises contained within, Arlene set an example for others, reminding those around her how then we are called to live.
In 1957, Arlene graduated from Mansfield Senior High School. After attending the University of Michigan, Arlene began her nursing career at Mansfield General before teaching at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Not long after, she moved to California where she began working as a nurse at Long Beach Memorial Hospital and met Clyde, the pharmacist on her floor. Despite nearly drowning in the ocean when he capsized his sailboat on their first date (and she consequently found herself struggling to stay afloat), she decided he was worth the trouble, and their date continued into the evening, complete with tennis and dinner. They were married on September 29, 1969.
With the birth of their first child a year later, Clyde and Arlene moved to Dayton, Ohio where they lived for approximately seventeen years and raised their four children. An expression of her
gentle nurturing and caring spirit, Arlene worked as a school nurse at Dayton Christian School where her children attended. Possessing a keen sense of grace, understanding, and patience and a servant's heart, she often attended to her students' physical needs and ailments by simply offering a helping hand and lending a listening ear.
Clyde and Arlene moved to Columbus, Ohio, where they lived for six years before moving to Granby, Connecticut, where they enjoyed canoeing, hiking, and trips across the New England States. Eight years later, they returned to Ohio to retire in Arlene's parent's home in Mansfield. As their children married, Arlene's love for her family spread to her three sons-in-law and daughter-in-law, followed by their eleven grandchildren. She valued a special relationship with her son-in-law's mother, Vera, whom she loved tenderly.
Throughout her life, Arlene exhibited a love of nature, growing flowers, faithfully tending to her gardens and bird feeders, and finding great joy in watching the hummingbirds and in sharing her knowledge and love with her grandchildren, yet another manifestation of her patient and loving spirit. She also cherished music and hymns, a love which began with playing the piano from a young age and giving piano recitals at Kingwood as a young girl.
She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Clyde, her children, Anna Kalashnik
(Jonathan), Kirsten Palmer (Jay), Julie Hovance (Jason), and Andrew Cooper (Laurie), and her grandchildren Alena, Samuel, and Matthew Kalashnik; Caleb and Asher Palmer; Jon, Kaylah, and Kinsey Hovance; and Grace, Nathaniel, and Eli Cooper.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Covenant Orthodox Presbyterian Church with a reception immediately following.