Elizabeth Cook

1958 - 2022

Elizabeth Lynne Cook passed away peacefully on November12, 2022 in her Terrytown home after a courageous battle with Ovarian Cancer. Elizabeth was born December 27, 1958, in Thibodaux, Louisiana to Van and Kathleen Cook and was a native of Terrytown for most of her life. She attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux where she was active in campus politics and became first woman SGA president of NSU in 1979. While residing in Thibodaux, Elizabeth lived with her beloved and late grandmother Marie Coignet Beary whom she took care of and spent many nights playing scrabble game with. Elizabeth (aka Betsy) possessed a free-spirited personality traveling and living around the Country including San Francisco, Phoenix, and Boulder, Colorado where she worked as the entertainment writer for the Boulder newspaper. Betsy had a special heart for animals esp her adopted Bunny 'Bun Bun' whom she only fed organic plant material. She also enjoyed cooking, gardening, drawing and photography, particularly the culture and spirit of New Orleans. Mardi Gras was her favorite holiday, and she would wake early on that day to eyewitness the Mardi Gras Indians dance & celebrate. She enjoyed listening to a variety of music, but her favorite bands were David Bowie, The Beatles, and REM. She had a natural talent for musical instruments including clarinet, guitar, and drum. Music made her smile. Elizabeth often stayed up late at night watching old SNL episodes and Scifi classics including Startrek and Aliens movie, two of her favorite! In recent years, Betsy became heavily involved as a community activist fighting against homelessness, hurricane relief, affordable housing and fair wages amongst other city challenges. She is survived by her parents, Van and Kathleen Cook, sisters, Melanie Cook, Caroline Cook, Sally Smith, and nieces and nephews she adored including Henry Gernhauser, Laura Durio (Joey), Miles Durio, and Emily Durio. She is also survived by brother in law, Tommy Hutchinson and her very special aunts and uncles, including Thomas Beary, Laura Dossey, and Charlotte Lavigne (Mike). She was preceded in death by her sister Stephanie Cook Hutchinson and Grandmother, Marie Coignet Beary. Elizabeth's ashes will be buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Thibodaux followed by Mass at St. Joseph's Church and Private Memorial Service. The family would like to thank Heart of Hospice and Compassus Hospice for their attentive care in the home these past few months.