Rita Jean Cooper

Rita Jean Cooper née McCormick, a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and a dear friend, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2026, at the age of 82 in Chicago, Illinois.

Born on August 5, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of John and Rita McCormick. She was the 5th of 10 siblings, she grew up in a lively home filled with love, resilience and strong family bonds that would shape the person she became.

Rita dedicated much of her life to caring for others through her work in nursing. She began her career at Columbus Hospital in 1979 and through the years of hard work, compassion and leadership, retired in 2005 from Northwestern Memorial Hospital as the Clinical Nursing Manager of the Gastrointestinal Lab. Rita was admired for her steady presence, strength, sense of humor and deep commitment to her patients and colleagues, She had a way of making people feel seen, supported and cared for.

Even in retirement, Rita's vibrant energy and love for staying active never faded. After a brief break, she returned to work alongside family at Atlas Realty Group, Inc., where she remained for the next 16 years.

Above all else, Rita's heart belonged to her family. She was the proud mother of five children, grandmother of twelve and great-grandmother of eight. She devoted herself to them by nurturing, teaching and instilling the values she lived by, hard work, independence, kindness, and compassion, her love was constant, steady, and unconditional.

Rita found joy in life's simple moments. She loved listening to Motown music, working on puzzles, spending time outdoors, visiting her daughter Kim in Florida, and gathering around a firepit with all of her family, where laughter, singing, stories, and conversations created memories that will live on forever.

Rita is survived by her children James (Jennifer) Cooper, Edward (Mara) Cooper, John (Valerie) Cooper, Kelly Cooper, Kim Weitzman (Stephen) Bush; her grandchildren Ryan (Chris) Love, Kyle (Alina) Cooper, Dane (Amanda) Cooper, Corey Weitzman, Connor Weitzman, Nicole (Kevin) Ffrench, Kevin (Siobhan) Cooper, Tyler Foster, Justin Foster, Leah Cooper and Ivana Cooper; and her great-grandchildren Alina, Chris Jr, Eric, Jason, Bella, Lily, Myles and Bella. She is also survived by her sisters Shirley (John) Hamilton of Texas, Susan (Karl) Mikkelsen, her daughter-in-law Maria Alvarez, her honorary grandson, Markie Signoretto and her life-long friend Carolyn Dynia, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents John and Rita McCormick, along with her siblings Patsy, Thomas, Mary, Kay, Joan, Jackie, Jimmie and her partner Dennis Krych.

A Funeral Mass celebrating Rita's life will be held at Queen of All Saints Basilica located at 6280 North Sauganash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60646 at 10a.m. on Monday, January 26, 2026. The family will be available to receive condolences at the church from 9:30-10a.m. Burial will be private and held at a later date.

Rita's life was defined by quiet strength, deep love, humbleness and unwavering devotion to those she cared for. She had an extra ordinary ability to turn life's challenges into moments of growth and grace, always standing as a source of comfort and stability for her family. Though she will be deeply missed, her spirit, lessons, and love will continue to live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.