Deacon Steve Cooley

 

A United States Army Vietnam veteran, Deacon Steve was a psychologist and worked in the nuclear industry and with the Federal transportation dept (FAA division).  He was ordained in 1997 in Illinois and was a deacon at Resurrection Parish, in Wayne, Illinois.  Deacon Steve moved to Maryland and served as a deacon at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Edgewater, Maryland for 15 years; he then moved to New Smyrna Beach in 2013 and was a deacon at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, New Smyrna Beach.

 

An avid reader, Deacon Steve loved photography, fishing and cooking; his apple pies were the best.  He was a devoted husband of 47 years.

 

Survivors include his loving wife, Suzanne; Five sisters, Julie (Al) Klein of Las Vegas, Nevada; Mary Grant of Long Valley, New Jersey; Carleen “Missy” (Steve) Custead of Frederick, Maryland; Theresa Cooley Zgela of Rockville, Maryland and Ann Nagelvoort, of Olney, Maryland; brother, Michael (Carol) Cooley of Pequea, Pennsylvania.  Also survived by many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Janie Randall and brother, Christopher Cooley.

 

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 6, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, New Smyrna Beach. Friends will be received on Friday, September 6, 2019 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Military burial will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 6, 2019 at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, 5525 US Highway 1, Mims, Florida 32754.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations in Deacon Steve’s memory to St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o Sacred Hearth Catholic Church, P.O. Box 729, New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168 or Sacred Heart Catholic Church, P.O. Box 729, New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168.