Marion Jean Tope – Bible Hill. Marion Tope passed away in her sleep at Colchester East Hants Health Centre on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, after a brief illness, and shortly after celebrating her 91st birthday. She was predeceased by her sister, Irene and her brother, Ron. Revered and loving Mum to daughter, Gayle (Jamie) Saunders, and beloved Nana to grandchildren, Matt (Marianne), Alyson (Hugh) with great granddaughter, Ingrid and Beth (Will).
Born in Verdun, Quebec, to the late William Colbeck and Jeannie Henry, Marion attended school in the city and was proud to call Montreal home. There she met and married the love of her life, Lawrence Timothy "Tim" Tope. They settled in NDG and started their family, welcoming the arrival of their precious daughter and only child Gayle in 1950. After a long career in business, Marion and Tim retired to Bible Hill in 1980 to be closer to Gayle and Jamie and their growing family.
After Tim's passing in 1987, Marion carried on alone, managing her own home and driving her own car up until a few weeks ago, often acting as chauffeur to friends much younger than herself. Hardly sick a day in her life, she survived a near fatal bus crash nine years ago, crediting a full recovery to her custom of going to the gym three times a week, well into her 80s. Fiercely independent, proud of her Scottish heritage, and never afraid to speak her mind, Marion was a loyal friend to all who had the good fortune to meet her. She loathed pretence and elitism in others, deplored laziness, and railed against graft and stupidity, especially on the part of elected officials. She was the first to lend a helping hand, offering generous but quiet support to those less fortunate.
She was a long time adherent of First United Church in Truro and an active member of her Unit in the U.C.W. Marion was a seasoned traveller who crisscrossed most of North America and much of Europe, preferring Paris and the Amalfi coast to all else. She enjoyed most sports, and could pick a batting rotation or an NHL draft, better than any coach, even winning this year's Stanley Cup pool that Will organized with his friends in Montreal. Marion was a woman whose wise counsel, warm smile and kind words earned her a wide group of friends. She said her trick to "staying with it" was to be inquisitive, ask questions, listen to the answers, and enjoy the company of young people.
Marion was immensely proud of Gayle's volunteer teaching of children with dyslexia. She basked in the stories of her grandchildren's many accomplishments. She had an abiding interest in current events, law, politics and sport. She was a voracious reader of literature and newspapers, even embracing an E-reader last year which allowed her to chew through several novels a month. Always forward thinking, never one to dwell on the past, Marion invariably reminded us that "Life is for the living...I have had a truly marvellous life...better than I could have ever imagined...and I am ready for the next step in the journey". And so Mum, Nana, your lasting legacy can be seen in the quality of the friends you made and the character of the family you reared. We will miss you dearly but we shall feel your presence every day, and the standard and fine example you set will guide us as we carry on.
Honouring Marion's wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral service. Private interment will be in Heatherdale Memorial Gardens, Alma, Pictou County. The family will gather at a later date to celebrate her life. We express our appreciation to the specialists and nurses who made Marion comfortable in her final days, as well as her many friends who dropped by or sent good wishes. Special thanks go to her caregivers at Earth Angels and her neighbours Sandra Hopkins and the Andersons who doted on Mum as if she were their own, all these years. In recognition of Mum's love of children, and Tim's long service as a Mason, donations may be made in her memory to Scottish Rite CF Learning Centre of Halifax, Inc., 1 Boland Road, Unit A, Dartmouth, N.S. B3A 3G7.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mattatall – Varner Funeral Home, 55 Young Street, Truro. Private messages of condolence may be sent to the family by viewing Marion’s obituary on-line and selecting "Send A Condolence" at: www.mattatallvarnerfh.com