Bertha Theresa Natzel Cocker

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Bertha Theresa Natzel Cocker of Victoria, Va. passed away peacefully with family members around her on July 11, 2019 at the age 90. She was the daughter of the late Dora (Tellier) and Charles Natzel of Norwich, Connecticut. Bertha was the widow of Louis F. Cocker, Jr. whom she married on May 16, 1953.

She is survived by nine children; Alison Hanmer (Rick) of Richmond, Elizabeth Amos (Donnie) of Farmville, Louis F. Cocker, III of Woodbridge; Charles Cocker (Charlene) of Durham, NC.; Mary Brady (Jim) of Chapel Hill, NC; Michael Cocker of Victoria, Patrick Cocker of Victoria, Matthew Cocker (Terri) of Forest, and Christopher Cocker (Julie) of Powhatan. She had sixteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Bertha was predeceased by her four siblings: Louise Yerrington, Charles Natzel, Irene Wilcox and Lorraine Talar all from eastern Connecticut. Bertha said that her children were the joy of her life.

She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, adult coloring books, arts and crafts, gardening and watching the songbirds. Bertha was a 15-year volunteer and treasurer at the Victoria Library, worked the polls during elections, served on the Lunenburg County Social Services advisory board, and was an active parishioner of the former St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Crewe. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew her for her kindness and humility.

A private service was held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Meherrin, Va. on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 with burial in the Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster, 709 Buffalo Street, Farmville, Va. 23901 and/or the Lunenburg Health Service, P.O. Box 121, Victoria, Va. 23974.