Obituary: Marjorie Cope

Marjorie Cope (nee Lowry) died peacefully in her home surrounded by family members on Nov. 1, 2017, at the age of 93 in Moorestown, NJ. Wife of the late Walter Cope, beloved mother of John, Diana (deceased) Robert, and Elizabeth and their spouses Linda, Judy, and Tom respectively. Adored grandmother of Joshua, Indira, Juliana, Michael, Tyler, Rachel, Rebecca, Dylan, and Hannah and great-grandmother of Zachary, Jacob, Whitney, Richard, Cornelia, Maeve, and Áine.

Marjorie, or Mother Marge as she has been known since her first grandchild came along, was born in London in 1924 to parents Alfred and Grace, dedicated members of the Religious Society of Friends. She was the youngest of four siblings, all with red hair. Her childhood was spent in England, France, and Belgium before the family settled back in the United States in 1931.

Marge graduated from Westtown School in 1942 and married her classmate, Walter, in 1945. Together they were a loving couple that created a beautiful family and touched countless lives in the community and the world.

Their service work with the American Friends Service Committee took them to Zambia where Walt taught people to build homes, and Marge got involved with nutrition education. When they returned to Moorestown in 1971, two young grandchildren were waiting for them.

Marge will be remembered by her large family (and even larger extended family) as a compassionate matriarch. After Walter’s sudden passing in 1992, she remained supportive and spirited. Her dry wit and warm personality could wipe the tears from a child’s face and turn any stranger into a friend.

She is an example of why it is important to be our true selves and embrace the simple pleasures in every day. She could entertain a small child through the monotonous parts of life because she never lost touch with her own inner child.

Memories of Mother Marge are everywhere: around the card table with her friends and relatives and around the dining table that almost filled the entire room at holidays; on the paved roads of Moorestown and on the pine-needle covered nature trails of Pocono Lake Preserve; completing a jigsaw puzzle and creating a scavenger hunt; reading a book and telling a bedtime story; on the facing benches at Westfield Meeting; and on the couch where she often fell asleep for an afternoon nap. Her presence will be missed by all who knew her.

A memorial service will be held at Westfield Friends Meeting, 2201 Riverton Road in Cinnaminson, NJ on Saturday, November 18, 3 p.m. The family has requested that memorial donations be made to the American Friends Service Committee or Westfield Friends School in lieu of flowers.