Jane Leslie Cooper, age 72, of Lisle, passed away on March 29, 2020, from lung cancer.  Jane was the beloved wife of the late Greg Van Norman and loving mother of Martha Korienek.  Her family included her sister of Martha (Michael) Baumann and the late Arthur Cooper, III, her niece, Katherine Baumann, her stepchildren, Kim Van Norman and Greg (Frances) Van Norman, Jr., and her grandchildren, Julia, Chris and Ellie.  All of whom she adored.  She also had family and friends around the world, whom she traveled to see as much as she could, and cherished that time with her loved ones.

Born in Chicago to Muriel and Arthur Cooper, II, she moved to the western suburbs in elementary school.  She returned to Chicago for college, graduating from the University of Illinois-Chicago in 1970.  She began a promising career in advertising and was an award-winning copyeditor.  Jane returned for her MBA at North Central College, Naperville, graduating in 1992, after which she owned and operating two small businesses. In her later years she was the parish administrator at All Saints Episcopal Church in Western Springs.

Jane was exceedingly creative, able to sew intricate patterns, such as a friend’s wedding dress, knit elaborate details into scarves, design and crochet a stunning blanket for her daughter when she went off to college, and dream up decorations which she then created from scratch.  She was an avid reader and wrote many short stories in her younger years.  She also loved to sing, and found immense joy singing with the choir at Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

Those who knew her will remember her humor, and her giving heart.  Her dry wit was often subtle but could make one laugh out loud.  She was always thinking of others, especially those whom she felt were forgotten by the world.  She volunteered at BEDS in LaGrange for over 25 years, and participated in the outreach endeavors of Kiwanis of Naperville throughout the past decade.

The memorial service will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 203 S. Kensington Ave., LaGrange, at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to BEDS in LaGrange or the Pipe Organ Project at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in LaGrange are appreciated.  Arrangements entrusted to Hallowell & James Funeral Home 630-964-6500.