Cena Piper was born on October 24, 1947, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Curtis and Ruth Cundiff. Cena’s sibling is her younger brother, Howell (Hal) Curtis Cundiff.
Cena is a Christian woman who sincerely believes in Jesus.
After high school, Cena became engaged to George H. Pelter, Jr., who moved to England with the Air Force during the Vietnam War period. Cena and George were married in England on March 4, 1966. They lived in England for four years and settled back in the U.S. in the Orlando, Florida, area.
In 1970 Cena and George had a daughter, Holly Nicole Copeland, born on July 25, 1972.
During Cena’s professional career in her 20s, she became a master cosmetologist and won many state competitions for hair and makeup. Some of her clients were Walt Disney and his wife, along with Arnold Palmer and his wife.
Later in Cena’s professional career, she entered commercial sales. During this time in commercial sales, she met and became friends with John Piper. They were friends for over 20 years before marrying.
Cena loved to cook and bake, especially for the family during holidays and friends who may not have a family to spend with during the holidays. Cena loved the beach and being near the ocean. When her daughter, Holly, was a teenager, they used to go to the beach every weekend together. Holly and Cena had a very close, loving relationship. Cena also liked various music and dancing.
Cena had a love for animals. In her 20s and 30s, she had a German Shepherd named Cricket and later in life had a Cocker Spaniel named Shyla and a terrier mix named Riley. She also studied butterflies and, for many years, raised caterpillars to become butterflies.
Cena married John Piper on March 24, 2020, until John unexpectedly passed away on November 4, 2022. Cena and John had a great love for each other and laughed a lot together.
Cena is survived by her brother, Hal Cundiff, daughter, Holly Copeland, son-in-law, Brooks Copeland, and granddaughter, Reagan Copeland.