Karen Marie Cooper

Karen Marie Cooper, age 74 of Stratford, CT returned to the Loving Arms of the Lord on August 7, 2020 at Gardner Heights Healthcare Center. She was born in Chicago, IL. She was the loving daughter of the late Charles and Claire Cole and the twin sister of Sharon Cole. Karen was a graduate of Fanger High School in Chicago and later moved to Baltimore and finally relocated to Connecticut in 1987. She was an avid Elvis fan - from his movies to his music, she loved them all. Karen also enjoyed reading, watching movies and her shopping trips to Walmart with her family. More than anything, Karen adored her family. She was the "resident babysitter" and always insisted on nightly family dinners. Karen's sweet and caring nature made everyone love her. She would often insist that everyone call her "Mom" or "Grandma;" and there wasn't a staff member or resident in any of her nursing homes that wouldn't call her a friend. Karen was infamous in her nursing homes for her yearly "Hot Cowboy Calendars." Karen is the loving mother of Jeremy Cole, Angelique Cooper, Theresa Cooper, and Terry Cooper, Jr.; the caring grandmother of Alyssa Neal, Jeremy Cole, Jr., Aurelius Cole, Hailey Bellinger, Zane Cooper, Keiana'Lee Neal, Alexis Devito, Leilani Thomas, Syndel Cooper, Antonio Devito, Jr., and Skylar Thomas, Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Thursday, August 13, 2020 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Funeraria Luz de Paz, 426 E. Washington Ave. Bridgeport, CT 06608. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING RESTRICTIONS due to COVID 19 Regulations, restrictions and policy implemented at all times within our facility! The Covid-19 Virus, the rules, regulations, limitations, and everything that has been stated by the government health officials has been challenging for all and funeral homes are not exempt from such plentiful rules and regulations. We want everyone to keep in mind, thus regulations and rules are made for the GENERAL well being and health of the public. In Connecticut we have had the bountiful Blessing to see that our efforts of committing to the guidelines set forth to prevent the exposure to the virus has not gone unrewarded, BUT we know and can clearly see around the world that getting comfortable will only create the possibility to allow all of our efforts to become null and void and all the progress we have had, be destroyed. Our State once again moves on to open and return back to normal implementing each phase, the current guidelines have determined that during viewing and visitation, and Funeral Services and these guidelines are STRICTLY adhered to and all attendees are expected to adhere to such regulations during their visit or unfortunately will be required to request such person (s) to exit our facility for the safety of all. Under no circumstance can we permit our facility to become a place where others should feel nothing less than safe and welcomed. Therefore such are the things we request all visitors to follow: - 49 persons or less would be the amount of persons permitted inside the funeral home at one given time. -Anyone outside will be able to hear the service and all announcements made throughout the evening. -anyone Inside the facility and even those outside creating the line down the back ramp to await others to exit to be granted the opportunity to enter it is REQUESTED that a 6 ft social distancing requirements be followed -Back entrance of the funeral home will be the EXCLUSIVE ENTRANCE AND EXIT throughout the entire viewing time. -Masks are REQUIRED TO ENTER -Masks are REQUIRED DURING THE ENTIRE STAY -Masks MUST cover the face and mouth during the entire stay (No exceptions) (anyone not covering their mouth and nose during their stay will be asked to leave immediately. PLEASE EVERYONE THIS IS FOR EVERYONE. -ALL FRIENDS are requested by the family and funeral home to come in when guided by funeral home staff, pay your respects, greet the family if you wish, the exit to the parking lot allowing others that may be in line to come in and do the same, BUT absolutely ONLY Blood relatives instructed by the family will remain inside the facility. Everyone's cooperation is what makes this possible and allows us to make this happen regardless of the restrictions and allowing everyone who loved, cherished and appreciated their loved one to come, pay their respects and all share time as a family, comfortably without having to go outside over and over to allow others to come in. Yet with everyone's cooperation, they remain inside as the family and everyone that comes through inspires them as the love that their loved one shared with each and everyone is supporting their hearts and minds with their presence and shared memories! We understand the cumbersome and uncomfortable nature of the wearing of masks, BUT: Consider this : YOU may run into someone ASYMPTOMATIC (they don't know, and you don't know) and suddenly your exposed because inside the building you decided, I don't like the mask covering my nose. YOU return home and expose your entire family including parents and even causing the death of someone dear to you, like a grandparent or parent as we just experienced with a family served, simply because you didn't want to be uncomfortable for 10 minutes which should be the maximum amount of time any friends would remain in the funeral home. Is it worth it? We may be young, we may be strong, and we may be "healthy" but maybe just maybe someone you run into is not and YOU are the reason they are now possibly exposed. It's not worth it, let us all work together while we are out to protect each other, protect our families, protect our homes until this invisible threat which has been a nightmare for so many, becomes a memory most want to forget! Let us work to keep the levels where they are and even lower with our help and God's guidance and blessing above all! Online Access to view the services live may be done by following directions below. Please know Viewing is DURING the viewing hours and we DO NOT record the service for later viewing! TO JOIN US VIA LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER -please make sure your computer is connected to the internet. -open your web browser to the following address..... zoom.us -upper right hand corner you will find a button which is labeled "Join a Meeting" -the meeting ID requested at the time will be 2033308081 -the password will be 7777 -final automated steps will occur with your permission granting such access on your system to view the services as they happen. Keep in mind it will only be during the service and will not be available after the service for viewing at a later Time. IF YOUR JOINING US VIA TABLET OR TELEPHONE (IOS OR ANDROID): -please visit the google play store or Apple app store -in your search bar enter Zoom cloud meetings -Download the app onto your unit -after downloading the app, press on the app to enter -click on the button , "Join a meeting" -enter the number 2033308081 which is the meeting code -enter the pass code: 7777 -join the meeting with your camera on and the device sound, that way you will be able to see and be seen, listened and heard.