Sister Maureen Cooper, OP of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, died May 8 in Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden. She was 82.
The daughter of the late Ambrose A. and Mary (Powell) Cooper, she was born July 24, 1936 in Camden.
Sister Maureen entered the novitiate of the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh, New York, in 1954, made her first profession in 1956 and final profession in 1959.
Sister Maureen earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York, and her master’s in religious education from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. As a child she attended Sacred Heart School in Camden and Camden Catholic High School. She worked part-time as a receptionist in Sacred Heart rectory and full-time as a typist in the RCA plant after graduation from high school until entering the convent at Mount Saint Mary in Newburgh.
Early teaching assignments took Sister Maureen to several elementary schools in New Jersey: Saint Mary School in Paterson, Saint Patrick School in Woodbury, Saint Lawrence School in Lindenwold and Sacred Heart School in Camden. In 1981, she moved to Saint Mary School in Gloucester. After 46 years of teaching elementary school, she moved from full-time teaching in June 2002, and worked as a teacher’s aide and as librarian at Saint Mary School in Gloucester. She retired in 2010 and served as volunteer librarian in Saint Mary School until June 2011.
In August 2011 she moved to Gloucester Towne in Gloucester City until July 2014, when she moved to the Manor at Saint Mary’s in Cherry Hill.
“One of her greatest joys during Sister Maureen’s years of teaching was the privilege of teaching religious education to various grade levels and preparing children for the reception of their first holy Communion and confirmation,” the Dominican Sisters of Hope said when announcing her death.
Sister Maureen is predeceased by her parents, Ambrose A. and Mary (Powell) Cooper, her brothers Edward, John, Peter and Philip and her sister Cecilia. She is survived by her sisters Frances and Patricia and several nieces and nephews.
The Mass of Christian Burial was at Saint Mary’s Church, Gloucester, on May 15. Burial was at the Dominican Sister’s Cemetery on the grounds of Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York.
Donations in memory of Sister Maureen Cooper can be made to the Dominican Sisters of Hope, 299 North Highland Ave., Ossining, NY 10562. Condolences and Memories may be shared at www.mccannhealey.com
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