Mary Hopkinson's Life Celebration and Home Repair

My mom, Mary Hopkinson , peacefully passed away in her sleep the morning of Wednesday, May 31st. After weeks of fighting for her life in the Owen Sound hospital, she died from kidney failure, but was battling a slew of other things breaking down her body.

This was not her first time fighting an illness. My mom was a fighter and a survivor. She overcame stage 4 breast cancer, a heart transplant, and so much more. Through all of this, my mom always gave her all. She raised me entirely by herself. She was part of many communities in Owen Sound like the Sydenham Bruce Trail Club the Owen Sound Field Naturalists, the Owen Sound Alliance Church , the First United Church, a book club, and I'm sure many more that I'm not even aware of. She was a children's librarian, volunteered with refugees coming into Canada and worked in schools with children with disabilities.

My mom was extremely loving, thoughtful, and generous. Even if she didn't have the funds, she was always giving gifts in one form or another. Her friends and family who came to visit her in the hospital all stated that she would always send out cards and never forgot a holiday or birthday.

My mom had a really nice end to her life. Though she was on multiple tubes, she got to cheers off her life with her favourite drink, Guiness, and some homemade shrimp with garlic. She was surrounded by loved ones throughout the day, which was what she wanted, and got to go outside and feel the sun.

On Sunday, June 11th, at 3pm, we will come together to pay our respects and honour my mother's life and accomplishments. I will be hosting a celebration of life across the street from her house at Kelso beach park. In order to do so, I will need to rent tables, chairs, a speaker, and decorations, as well as buy the food to prep for the celebration.

I will also be staying at her house (my childhood home) and fixing it up while I'm here.

This fundraiser is for anyone who wants to donate towards costs related to my mom's cremation, celebration of life, and fixing up her house.

Many thanks to family and friends for being here during these very hard times, for your support, and for any donations, anything contribution is greatly appreciated.

With much love, Kathleen <3