O. Willa Cooper

Daughter of the late Edith and William Goheen, Willa passed peacefully, in her sleep at home, on Fri., July 2, 2021. Willa answered her Saviour’s call and took Jesus’ hand as she entered her eternal home. Beloved wife of the late Harold Thomas Cooper.

Loving mother of Sterling (Cheryl) Cooper, Linda (Angel) Valentin, Wilma (Cooper) Kelley, Myron (Louise) Cooper, Joy (Frank) Lutzi, Carolyn (Ben) Peters.

She will be missed by 9 grandchildren: Ben (Rebekah) Cooper, Tim (Mary) Cooper; Jonathan (Katie) Valentin, Joshua (Elda) Valentin, Celeste (Mark) Donleavy; Rachel (Justin) Nelson; Rebecca (Jory) Hewson, Pamela (Justin) Robinson; Julia Peters.

She also loved her 20 great-grandchildren.

Willa was predeceased by her dear brother R. Elmer Goheen wife Grace Goheen; loving sister Iva (Goheen) Break and husband Carl.

Loved and survived by sisters Lois Parke (husband Bert predeceased), and Ruth (Harvey) Bradley.

Willa was born Oct. 28, 1924 and raised in Housey’s Rapids. She attended a one-room school within walking distance of her home which is standing as a private home. She then attended Gravenhurst high school and then trained as a schoolteacher at the former Lorne Parke College in Port Credit, ON. She taught elementary school children, and was an encouragement to each of her students, for a few years until she married Harold in 1946. She was also a supply teacher. She enjoyed being outside, working with the farm animals and her vegetable and flower gardens. Doing crafts was a special treat for her. Her highest pleasure was raising their 6 children to walk in the ways of the Lord. She faithfully attended the old Housey’s Rapids Free Methodist Church and then the new Ryde Centennial Free Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School, and faithfully served in various capacities. She did well in all her accomplishments in spite of developing Polio while expecting her first child who was born in 1947. More recently she suffered from post polio syndrome.

In recent years, she enjoyed hearing gospel music, Christian speakers and reading her Bible and books. She really enjoyed visiting with family and friends very much. She had a real burden for family members and friends who hadn’t yet committed themselves to the Lord, and often prayed for each one by name. While suffering the pain of a heart attack she thought, “If Hell is this painful, I don’t want any of my relatives or friends to go through it! Lord, please help them to know You!” Her greatest prayer is to be reunited with those family and friends she has been praying for over the years.

A private Celebration of Life will be held at the Cooper’s Falls Free Methodist Cemetery.

Donations to Ryde Centennial Free Methodist Church https://janet845.wixsite.com/rydefreemethodist are greatly appreciated.