Lucrecia Cooper

1928 - 2021

Lucrecia Cooper
October 19, 1928 - November 16, 2021
Raleigh, North Carolina - Lucrecia Cambrelen Figueroa-Cruz Cooper, the daughter of Inocencio Cambrelen and Elisa Figueroa, was born on October 19, 1928, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She passed peacefully from this world to the next at 93 years of age on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, NC.
Lucrecia was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She was the eldest of her 12 siblings and loved to tell stories of growing up on her island, from her early days of climbing trees to get mangos and harvesting shrimp from the sea, to graduating from Ponce High School and getting her first job as a legal secretary to help support her parents and siblings.
Lucrecia was a lifelong resident of Glenham, NY. She came to New York City in 1946, where she met and married the love of her life, Jack Cooper Sr. Upon meeting Lucrecia, Jack stated, "I'm going to marry that girl because she's gonna make pretty babies!" They lived in New York City until 1949 before moving upstate to Beacon, NY to raise their family. It was on the hill of Bedford Lane in Glenham, NY where Lucrecia helped her husband and brother-in-law, Pete Cooper, build the home where she would reside for over 60 years.
Lucrecia was a devoted wife, mother and devout Catholic. She was a faithful lifelong member of St John's Church. She would burn candles, give out blessed rosary beads, and pray fervently for family and friends. Lucrecia loved and believed in angels and was a collector of angel figurines. Lucrecia also enjoyed services and supported programs at Springfield Baptist Church, founded by her mother-in-law, the Reverend Mattie Cooper.
As a homemaker, she took great pride in making clothes for her children. She also enjoyed cooking for large family gatherings where she prepared her signature Puerto Rican arroz con gandules and several soul food dishes, taught to her by her mother-in-law. Lucrecia also loved traveling to new and exciting places, dancing and listening to music, spending time at the beach, going for walks, her vanilla ice cream, and watching her novelas on the television.
Lucrecia was not only a lover of people, but also had a special love for animals, having owned her beloved parrot, Petey, two love birds, and a cat named Mishu. Throughout her life, Lucrecia filled her time crocheting blankets and dolls, doing needle point, sewing for family and friends, creating beautiful pieces of ceramic art, and swimming in her pool with her children and grandchildren. Those who knew and loved her also know that Lucrecia was the "Queen of QVC" which helped her to build a beautiful collection of porcelain dolls representing the dolls that she could not afford as a child. She also loved her first cars, a blue Toyota Corolla, and a Mercury Zephyr.
When her youngest child began school, Lucrecia returned to working outside of the home. She entered the workforce as an employee of the Bobrich Factory in Beacon, NY. She would later work for the Sonotone Corporation in Cold Spring, NY before beginning what would become her career with IBM East Fishkill. During her time with IBM, from which she retired following 30 years of service, Lucrecia advanced to a supervisory role in the Quality Control Department. She also served as a Director of the IBM Club and delighted in planning trips, tours, and special events for its members. In her role as wife, mother, sister, friend, employee, and more, Lucrecia worked hard and attained her vision of the American Dream!
Lucrecia was predeceased by her parents, Inocencio Cambrelen and Elisa Figueroa; her beloved husband, Jack Cooper Sr.; her sons, Jack Cooper Jr., and Samuel Cooper; her brothers, Inocencio Jr., Jose, Lucas, Efrain, Jorge, Jaime, Nestor, and Luis; and her sisters, Delores Nelms and Julia Cambrelen Figueroa.
Lucrecia is survived by her daughters: Elisa Cooper Jackson of Dumfries, VA; Gladys Lucrecia Cooper-Sumter (Fred) of St. Augustine, FL; Brynie Cooper of Poughkeepsie, NY; and Susie Cooper of Raleigh, NC; her sisters: America, Angelica, Francesca, and Josephina; her brother, Ángel; and her Uncle Fulvio. She had 10 grandchildren: Jacqueline Cooper, Janine Cooper, Markus Jackson, Andrea Powell (deceased), Curtis Powell, Joshua Rodriguez, Leslie Cooper, Rashan Pittman, Steven Cooper, and Kia Allah. Lucrecia also had 20 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and loved ones.
In addition to the love she felt for all those around her, Lucrecia also cherished and adored her niece Connie Cooper of Beacon, NY and her nephew, Jose Sierra of Toby Hanna, PA, whose support and care meant the world to her. She was also very grateful for the time she shared with her sisters-in-law, Lucille Ireland, Doris Cooper, and the Rev. Barbara Cooper Baker; and for her dear friends, Fredricka Lamont and Jacqueline Sanford, whose friendship she enjoyed for many years.
In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Beacon Senior Friendship Center, care of the Dutchess County Office of the Aging, a place that was near and dear to her heart.
Mrs. Cooper will have a walkthrough 6:00-8:00 p.m. Friday, November 26, 2021, at Rhodes Funeral Home, 43 Fairview Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 am on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 31 Willow St., Beacon, NY 12508. Interment will be Monday, November 29, 2021, at 10:00 am, Fishkill Rural Cemetery, 801 Rt. 9, Fishkill, NY 12524.
Due to the global pandemic, face masks, mouth/nose coverings and social distancing will be required.