- SAVANNAH - Theresa Eloise Cooper Saunders died peacefully at her home on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at the age of 88.

She was born on February 23, 1919, to Blake Miccigi Cooper and Mary Lyons Cooper. She was a native and lifelong resident of Savannah, where she led a simple life of faith as a devoted mother to her children, grandchildren, and great -grandchildren. She attended Sacred Heart Parochial School until 1933. Theresa graduated from St. Vincent's Academy in 1937, having received a full scholarship from the local Knights of Columbus, Council 631. After graduating from the St. Joseph's School of Nursing, Savannah, in 1941, she honored her country by serving as 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps, 1941-42. Her assignments included Camp Shelby, Mississippi and Summer Maneuvers, Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. She was a communicant of the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament and patriotic member of the American Legion Post 36. She was a retired Registered Nurse and worked as head of Obstetrics at Georgia Infirmary Hospital and Candler General Hospital, Pediatrics. Theresa loved children and was known to be very compassionate to the sick. She was proud of her Irish heritage and enjoyed family celebrations on St. Patrick's Day in Savannah.

She was preceded in death by her husband Arthur Lloyd Saunders, Jr., and daughter Rose Rosie Marie Saunders.

She is survived by her children: Arthur Lloyd Saunders, III, Vincent Cooper Saunders, of Austin, TX, Stephen Francis Saunders, and wife Annelle Smith Saunders, Therese Saunders Leonard, Lawrence Patrick Saunders and wife Melinda Paige Saunders, Patricia Saunders Mizelle, and husband Edward Carson Mizelle, Mary Agnes Saunders McDonough and husband Bernard Aloysius McDonough, Jr. Nephew Dennis Joseph Lales and wife Tina Gaudry Lales; grandchildren, Dennis Brendan Leonard, Patrick Lawrence Leonard, Michael Markwalter Leonard, Kevin Grady Leonard, Stephen Saunders Leonard, S. Erin McBride Howard and husband Jay, Amanda Therese Mizelle, Mark Edward Mizelle, Thomas Andrew Mizelle, Egan Mahon Saunders of Durango, CO; Katherine Marie Saunders of Houston, TX; Kelly Marie Saunders, Kathleen Patricia Saunders, Juliana Merritt Melancon, and Thomas Leo Melancon, great-grandchildren, Katlyn E. Howard, Hannah M. Howard, and Joshua G. Howard; nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, June 15, 2007, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church with a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, June 16, 2007, at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Most Blessed Sacrament with Father Jeremiah J. McCarthy and Father P. James Costigan officiating.

Burial will follow in the Holy Cross section of the Catholic Cemetery. The pallbearers will be all her grandsons.

Remembrances may be sent to St. Vincent's Academy or Benedictine Military School.