Ilene F. Copen, age 82, of New Philadelphia, Ohio, died Tuesday afternoon, September 29, 2026, in the Ohio’s LifeCare Hospice Truman House at New Philadelphia.
She was born November 19, 1943, in Cocke County, Tennessee and was the daughter of the late Hugh and Teen (Williamson) Fowler. Her husband, the late Edwin E. “Ed” Copen, whom she married July 28, 1961, passed away on May 24, 2016. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two infant sisters.
Ilene was a former employee of Union Hospital at Dover from 1987 until 2003, where she worked as both a nurse’s aide and in the housekeeping department. She retired from Alsco in Sugarcreek after 13 years of service.
She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Delana G. (Robert “Dan”) VanFossen of New Philadelphia, and two sons, Edwin Copen of New Philadelphia and Jason Ryan Copen of New Cumberland, OH, three granddaughters, six great-granddaughters, and a sister, Ima Webb of Tennessee.
No formal funeral services are scheduled. The Baxter-Gardner Funeral Home at Sherrodsville has been entrusted with her cremation arrangements. Interment of her ashes next to her husband will follow at a later date in the New Cumberland Cemetery. To leave an online condolence message please visit the funeral home website.
Baxter-Gardner
(740) 269-9225
www.baxtergardner.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ilene F. Copen, please visit our floral store.