Rena Jane (Leonard) Cooper

Rena Jane (Leonard) Cooper passed away at age 88 on January 3rd, 2022, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Rena was born on June 11, 1933, in Mason City, Iowa. Rena was the fourth of five children born to Verda (Clark) Leonard and Harry Leonard. Rena grew up attending the Church of the Nazarene with her family. Since her mother worked full time to support the family, Rena learned at a young age to cook and had dinner on the table each night when her mother came home. Rena loved the piano and cleaned a piano studio in exchange for lessons and practice time. She was a voracious reader and spent countless hours at the public library.

When Rena was in High School, the family moved to Denver, Colorado. After graduation, she moved to California to attend Pasadena Nazarene College. Rena worked at the telephone company and attending classes during the day at Pasadena College and studied nursing.

She then attended and completed a registered nursing program at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Returning to Denver to live and work, she met the love of her life, Dr. Ronald Cooper, at the Church of the Nazarene. They married days after he graduated from Medical School. The couple then moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where they made a life and raised their family.

Rena and her husband were active members of First Church of the Nazarene their entire lives. Rena attended Sunday School and Church, played the piano and sang in the choir at the Heights First Church of the Nazarene, and attended church camp at Bonita Park every summer.

Rena was competitive and athletic. She was a devoted swimmer her entire adult life and taught all of her children and grandchildren to swim. She also enjoyed walking and jogging to stay fit. She learned to play tennis when she was in her forties and was a longtime member of the Albuquerque Tennis Club.

Rena was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Cooper; her daughter, Jill Cooper; and her grandson, Caleb Beck. She is survived by her daughter, Judith Cooper and husband Eric Hooper; her son, Ronald "Ronnie" Cooper Jr.; her granddaughters Margaret Hendricks, Hannah Wells, and Brittney Cooper; her great-granddaughters Coraline Hendricks and Alice Wells; as well as beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Rena was a rock for her Church Family and others in the community. She brought laughter and a spirit of joy to everyone she met. She loved her family and those who she adopted as family. This includes Emma and Nicholas and their mother Natalia.

Family and friends may visit FRENCH-Wyoming on Friday, January 14th from 10:00am-5:00pm. A service will take place at First Church of the Nazarene, on Saturday, January 15th at 2:00pm, with visitation from 12:00pm-1:30pm.