It is with sadness and wonderful memories that we announce the passing of Marion Ruth Hopkins on Saturday, May 21, 2022, in Hospice Cape Breton.
Marion Ruth MacLean was born in Port Morien in 1928, daughter of the late John F. “Jack” and Harriet (Rankin) MacLean. She was sister to Audrey, Lauchie and David and wife to William “Bill” Hopkins, who all predeceased her.
A graduate of the first graduating class of Morrison High in Glace Bay, Marion went on to study nursing, graduating from the Glace Bay School of Nursing, class of 1951. She has been a fine representation and true credit to her profession. Marion nursed in Halifax in the OR for many years, doing postgraduate studies at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. She returned home to care for her mother, worked at the Glace Bay General and then began a career as a nurse educator, teaching in the Certified Nursing Assistant program at the Vocational School in Sydney and at the New Waterford Hospital. Marion continued her nursing career well into her 70s, teaching home care throughout Eastern Nova Scotia in the early days of the development of the provincial home care program.
In 1971, Marion married Bill Hopkins, an engineer from Shelburne County, who was the engineer for the town of North Sydney and Cape Breton County. He then joined his brothers managing Hopkins Fish Plant in Port Morien.
Marion travelled extensively in Europe, the United States and Latin America. She was the IODE provincial president, instructed Junior Achievement and was an active board member on a number of community organizations.
She was a member of the United Church in Port Morien and the United Protestant Church of Sydney River.
A lover of animals and nature, Marion spent many years in the home she built with Bill bordering on their own little brook, surrounded by trees, ducks and singing birds.
Marion is survived by her five nieces, Cathy (Tom), Shauna, Marion, Elizabeth and Jean (Brian); special nephew, Donald, Vancouver; grandnieces and nephews, Ian, James, Emily, Johnena (Ryan) and their children, Jessa and Vincent and David and his son, Baby Lukas. She had many dear lifelong friends and never took any of them for granted.
Marion would like to thank her family and her wonderful neighbors and friends who enriched her life in so many ways.
Visitation will take place at Sydney Memorial Chapel on Tuesday, May 31, 2022 from 4-7 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the United Protestant Church of Sydney River on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Dana Feltmate officiating. Interment will take place in Black Brook Cemetery, Port Morien.
Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.
Words of comfort can be sent to the family at www.sydneymemorialchapel.ca or e-mail sydneymemorialchapel@ns.sympatico.ca
A strong, independent woman, Marion will be missed and never forgotten.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Marion Ruth MacLean Hopkins 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Sydney, Province: Nova Scotia