Rebecca Thompson Cohen, age 69, passed away of natural causes on July 20, 2024 at her home in Wilmington, Delaware.
Born on March 10, 1955 in Frankfurt, Germany where her father was stationed with the U.S. Army, Rebecca would soon thereafter move with her parents to Rockville, Maryland, where she enjoyed her childhood alongside her three younger siblings. Rebecca graduated high school from Connelly School of the Holy Child in Potomac, Maryland, where her family would later move while she was in college. An ambitious and hard-working student, Rebecca went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania and was awarded two degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Biology.
Upon graduation from Penn, Rebecca moved to New Castle, Delaware. Just days after giving birth to her first child, Nicholas, Rebecca began her career calling as a nurse when she enrolled in a nursing program at the University of Delaware, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1982. She eventually chose to put that career pursuit on hold after giving birth to her second child, Benjamin. She chose to stay home with her two sons while they were young, but that choice did not slow her down from giving freely of her time and energy to care for the people of New Castle County, Delaware.
In 1980, Rebecca joined her church, Jacob’s Well (formerly known as Newark United Pentecostal Church), where she dedicated decades of volunteer service to her congregation and local community. She leaves a long legacy of love and care of people, demonstrated by her willingness to spend time with and support anyone who visited or became a member of her church. For over 30 years, she taught Sunday School and Bible education classes to kindergarten-aged children. She rarely missed an opportunity to volunteer, and as her own children grew she supported them in their rigorous Bible Quizzing program, joining them for thousands of hours of studying and practices, and traveling with them to tournaments throughout the United States and Canada.
Rebecca renewed her credentials as a registered nurse and resumed her nursing profession in the 1990s. In later years, she went on to spend over a decade as a public health nurse for the State of Delaware in the Home Visiting and Child Development Watch programs. This work was truly her calling, drawing on the depth of her medical training and experience, along with her passion for people. Through this work she visited hundreds of pregnant mothers, infants, and children in their homes throughout the county. She cared for the children of Delaware as if they were her own, ensuring that mothers had the resources they needed for healthy pregnancies and that their children thrived. Rebecca also spent many hours volunteering in the emergency room at Nemours Children’s Hospital.
In the early 2000s, Rebecca heeded another important calling – to be a foster parent. This commitment brought her back into the world of bottle feedings and diaper changes as she opened up her heart and home to the young children placed in her care by the Division of Family Services. Rebecca embraced each child as if they were her own, while also building relationships with the birth families of her foster children. Her fostering journey led her to meet her third child, her daughter Sarah. She also gained many close friendships with people she considered family through her fostering relationships and reunification efforts.
Rebecca’s friendships are a testament to her life dedicated to giving freely to others. She spent many hours visiting her friends, giving rides to those who did not have transportation, and being a listening ear. She never expected anything in return for her kindness and often gravitated toward people who had little family or support of their own nearby.
Rebecca was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren, checking in frequently on their health and accomplishments and always willing to travel to be a part of events, recitals, and graduations. Her presence will be missed, and her legacy of care for others will endure in the hearts of all she touched on this earth.
She leaves behind her sons, Nicholas Cohen (Renée) and Benjamin Cohen (Susan); her daughter, Sarah Cohen; her three grandchildren, Jacques, Julienne, and Luke; her brother, Gregory Thompson; and her nephew, Kristofer Thompson. Rebecca was preceded in death by her father and mother, Daniel Richard Thompson and Anne Genereaux Thompson; her sister Susan Claire Thompson; and her brother David Andrew Thompson.
A service to celebrate Rebecca’s life will be held on August 10, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Jacob’s Well 73 Salem Church Rd, Newark, DE 19713. To honor her life, donations in Rebecca’s name may be made to Compassion Services (compassionservices.org).
