Mary Jo Cooper, 68, passed away in her home on Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Rockford, IL, after a courageous battle with cancer. Born on May 19,1957, daughter to Charles Matthews and Josephine (Cascio) Matthews, Mary Jo led a life filled with love, creativity, and dedication to family. Much of Mary Jo’s career was spent in hospitality and caretaking, most notably at Milestone and working as an activity coordinator at Wesley Willows Retirement Community. Her many talents included baking, making concrete leaves, rockheads, sewing, ceramics and woodworking, just to name a few. In recent years, Mary Jo found a passion for fishing and playing the ukulele. Starlight Theater also had a special place in Mary Jo’s heart, sometimes sharing performances with her daughter Erin and where she eventually met her husband Phil during a production of Rags. She loved spending time with family on the holidays, and making sure everyone’s birthday's were special.

She will be missed by those who love her the most, her husband of almost 32 years, Phil Cooper; her children Louis Pobjecky, Jennifer (John) Logli, Erin (Bret) Churchill, Philip Cooper, her beloved grandchildren Juliana and Jake Logli and stepsons Matthew Cooper and Nathanial Sutherland; not to mention her ‘delightful’ dog, Inigo Montoya. She is predeceased by her granddaughter Jozie Pobjecky; mother Josephine (Cascio) Matthews, father Charles Matthews, and brothers Robert and Gary Matthews. She is also predeceased by David (Stacy) Dickerson, a past partner and forever friend.

Services will take place on May 19, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service, 11:30 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois 61108. Burial to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Winnebago, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials to be made to the family to establish at a later date. To send online condolences or share memories, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com