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Lorena A. Cooley, 105, of Oxford, IN, passed away at 10:25 p.m., on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at Green Hill Manor in Fowler, IN. She was born on September 7, 1901 in Fowler, IN, a daughter of the late David Besse and Matilda Pilotte of the Besse, Pilotte, Benoit, and Giroux, French-Canadian families that had emigrated to Canada from the La Rochelle area of France in the mid-seventeenth century. She married James Francis Cooley on May 6, 1924 in Fowler and they made their home on a farm at Oxford until James died April 17, 1986. James was of Irish-German ancestry and a son of Michael Joseph Cooley and Catherine Marie Brown. He was a descendent of the Cooley, Braun, May, and O'Neill families of Benton County, IN. Mrs. Cooley was a homemaker, a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Oxford and Daughters of St. Patrick's. She led a long, busy, and useful life and enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and playing cards, especially euchre. Surviving are five daughters: Venitta A. Camden of Bridgeton, MO, Iva Gene M. Brouillete of Fowler, Beverly Ann Sanchez (husband: Canuto) of Santa Rosa, NM, Eunice M. Cyr (husband: Leon) of Fowler, Berneice M. O'Neal (husband: Wayne) of Oxford; and a son, Marvin F. Cooley (wife: Phyllis) of Goodland, IN. Also surviving are 36 grandchildren, 95 great-grandchildren;, and 24 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sons, Eldon T. and James F. Cooley; two sons-in-law, Robert F. Camden and Joseph Brouillete; five sisters; four brothers; one grandson; and one great-grandson. Her grandson, U.S. Marine Ronald M. Cooley, died in battle in Vietnam on May 20, 1967. Visitation was 1 hour prior to 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass on Friday, February 23, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Oxford. Her grandson, Rev. John Cyr, recited the Mass and delivered her eulogy. Rev. Cyr was assisted by the Revs. Donald Eder, Ed Rice, Donald Gross, Ted Rothrock, and Fr. Raphael (Uganda). Interment followed at Oxford Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Benton County Catholic Educational Trust, P.O. Box 25, Fowler, IN 47944.
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