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 BOBBY BRITNELL
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MARIE ROPER
The news of Marie Ropers death last week will be of such sadness to so many readers of my newsletters. My apologies for those of you who do not know her and I hope you will understand the need in circulating this news.
Marie has been responsible for touching the lifes of so very many people through years of teaching and mentoring. I was fortunate enough to work alongside her at Westhope College for 12 years and could experience first hand the wealth of knowledge that she had on every aspect of both traditional and contemporay forms of embroidery, patchwork and quilting. She has always been highly respected as a teacher and the quality of this teaching was evident through the results of her students work.
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I have also been priviledged in exhibiting with Marie as a member of 'SIX' and have enjoyed the numerous exhibitions that we were involved with over the years. Some exhibitions took us abroad and in 2008 the six of us in the group at the time, Linda and Laura Kemshall, Edwina MacKinnon, myself and Marie, joined the sixth member Catherine Nichols in Vancouver, as we were exhibiting in the Quilt Museum, La Conner.
Marie was particularly excited on this trip as she was able to meet up with her son Ian. Marie and I stayed on a while longer to teach and lecture and were able to stay with my sister and her family who live in Vancouver. Marie was immediately taken into our family and a wonderful relationship developed between them all. She had a wonderful rapport with my niece Mary and spent a great deal of time with her drawing and fashion designing. Mary was in her element...........another life enriched by Marie's presence. Marie with Mary |
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My sister Margot also formed an immediate bond with Marie.
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One thing that we managed to do on the entire trip was too laugh: both on the journey out there, the flight home and the time spent there was full of humour and laughter. Here we were joined by my cousin Trish.
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A trip to Whistler, where we gave a lecture and delivered workshops was also arranged. An excursion by cable car scared me rigid, but Marie just loved it.
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Gifts of Marie's beautifully crafted dolls will be one small reminder of such a talented and warm lady. These she gave to my sister.
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You will be missed by so many Marie, but remembered for so much. I hope this knowledge will give strength to your family.
Marie's funeral will be at 2.15 pm on Thursday 9th August at Hereford Crematorium. |
