Marlene "Marci" Marie Cooper Brindza

Marlene “Marci” Marie Cooper Brindza passed away on Monday, December 25, 2023, in Houston, Texas, at 52. She was born on Thursday, February 25, 1971, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Joan Phelan Cooper and Paul Ervin Cooper. She was raised in Metairie, LA, and was a resident of Memphis, TN. Marlene made the best cake balls and pralines you ever tasted! She was generous and thoughtful, and loved spoiling everybody she was close to. For the past 17 years she worked at a family orthopedic clinic and her passion was taking care of their patients. She enjoyed dancing, baking, organizing and road tripping.     

Marlene is survived by her husband, Marc Brindza and her father, Paul Ervin Cooper. Sisters, Darlene Pagani (twin) and Renee Cooper Stewart. Sisters-in-law, Katherine Schrader and Susan Sanders. Brothers-in-law, Jason Pagani and Larry Schrader. Nieces, Stella Rosalie Pagani and Callie Reese Childers. Nephews, Duncan Stewart, Connor Stewart, Davis Childers and Griffin Childers. Godson Michael Palasch. Aunts, Linda Morvant, Jeanie Phelan, Joan Vicknair, Helen Martin and Lucille Kerr. Uncle, Jim Stephenson. Cousins, Melanie Hinkle (Mark and Maci), Irby Morvant Jr. (Allyson, Amelia, Thomas, and Natalie) John Edward Phelan, Natalie Schliem (Todd, Jacob and Sophia), Matthew Phelan (Tisha, Grace, Julie, Maggie and Matthew), April Duhe (Eddie), Jan Childress (Keith, Taylor, Kaitlyn) and Allen Austin Vicknair (Ashley). Best friend, Darnell Palasch.   

She was preceded in death by mother Joan Phelan Cooper, grandparents Gleisner (John Sr) and Marie Centanni Phelan, Austin M. and Rosalie Mathis Cooper, Clifton J. Stephenson, aunt Nancy Korn, uncles Gleisner “Guy” Phelan, Irby Morvant Sr., Allen Vicknair, parents-in-law Edward and Marie Brindza, and cousin Stacy Phelan.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2024 from 9:00 AM - 3:00PM, with services afterward at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home in Ponchatoula, LA and burial at Cooper Cemetery in Robert, LA afterward:

Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home

100 W. Magnolia St.

Ponchatoula, LA 70454

(985) 386-6580

https://www.harrymckneely.com

Floral Arrangements are available from:

Especially for You Florist

(985) 370-0445

https://efyfloral.com/

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in Marlene’s honor: https://lls.org/

A memorial service will be held in Memphis, TN at a location and date to be announced.