Obituary

Audrey Marie LeBlanc Cooper

July 1, 1931 - November 10, 2023

Audrey Marie LeBlanc Cooper was born on July 1, 1931. She passed away peacefully at her son and daughter-in-law’s home on November 10, 2023 surrounded by family. She was raised in Madisonville, Louisiana. A country girl at heart, Audrey was the eldest of three children born to Joseph and Thelma LeBlanc and is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Joseph Leblanc, Jr., and her sister, Shirley LeBlanc Jenkins.

Audrey graduated as valedictorian from St. Scholastica Academy in 1948. While working at the Department of Agriculture, she met and married the love of her life, Ernest Joseph Cooper.

They were married in 1952 and remained married for 52 years until Ernest passed away in 2004. The union of that marriage and the love between the two of them produced five children: Mike (Catherine), Eric (Lisa), Paula Hutchinson (Marvin deceased), Teresa, and Chris (Tricia), twelve grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Audrey was a companion and complement to her husband Ernest throughout their lives together, including his time serving as Mayor of Covington for 24 years. Audrey worked full time over the years with the Department of Agriculture, P&W Industries, and as secretary for Judges Thomas Tanner and Brady Fitzsimmons. After her retirement, she volunteered at the St. Tammany Parish Hospital Guild, accumulating over 4,000 hours of service.

She absolutely treasured family time. Her home was always open for visiting or enjoying a meal. Saturday morning breakfast with the family was a long-time tradition and gave everyone a chance to catch up and stay active in each other’s lives. While Audrey was a faithful servant to others, she also took time for herself every Monday evening for over forty years to play Pokeno with her “Cinderella Club”, which consisted of close friends who always made sure they were home by midnight.

Moreover, Audrey was a faithful and lifelong member of St. Peter Catholic Church and prayed the rosary daily, living out her faith in her everyday life. Audrey was patient, caring, compassionate, thoughtful, generous, joyful, kind, loyal and humble. She loved her family fiercely and everyone felt her love. She lived a life showing gratitude in all things and will be greatly missed by all.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Little Light Food Pantry. St Peter Catholic

Church ℅ Little Light Food Pantry, 125 East 19th Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 or St Tammany Hospital Foundation in support of the St. Tammany Hospital Guild, at 1202 South Tyler, Covington, La 70433.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Funeral Mass at St. Peter Catholic Church, 125 E. 19th Ave., Covington, LA 70433 on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 1:00 PM with visitation from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon. The Rosary will be prayed at 12:00 Noon followed by Words of Remembrance and quiet meditation before Mass. Interment will be private at Garden of Pines Cemetery, Covington, LA.