Marian Davidson (Macteer) Copeland, age 88, of Hingham and East Orleans, the beloved wife of the late Lawrence David Copeland, passed away suddenly at home March 29, 2010.
She was born December 18,1921 in Quincy to the late Thomas and Marion Burr (Hardwick) Macteer. She was a 1939 graduate of Quincy High School and a 1941 graduate of Burdett Secretarial College, in Boston. During the war she contributed to the effort working at Stone and Webster as a secretary.
She was married to her beloved Laurie at the beginning of World War II. They had over 63 wonderful years together. At war’s end and after having her three children, she was a member of the Hingham Theater for Children, serving as its secretary for many years. She later worked as the church secretary for the First Congregational Church of Braintree for 10 years. In these and later years, as Laurie’s career at Northrop Corporation took him traveling and working overseas she joined him many times, serving as hostess for his various events and resulted in friendships from around the world. She and Laurie loved traveling and experienced over 45 trips on the QE2, several of them with their grandchildren that were the highpoint of these trips.
She was a volunteer at the South Shore Hospital and a member of the Friends of the South Shore Hospital for many years. She was, along with Laurie, a founding member of the South Shore Dancers, a group with whom she shared her love of dancing and brought many enduring friendships. She was an accomplished seamstress and a master knitter. Her talents were evident whenever a package with a sweater, hats or mittens arrived at one’s home, which was a special treat, especially for her grand and great grandchildren. In later years she conquered the Internet and email which allowed her to continue her large correspondence with her family, international friends and special friends all over the country.
She was the devoted mother of Lawrence D. Copeland II of East Walpole, and his wife Claire, Meredith H. C. Farmer of Avon, Conn and her husband B. Craig, and Jonathan B. Copeland of Lakeville and his wife Corinne. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and six great grandchildren, who were the delight of her life and called her “GiGi”.
A Memorial Service will be conducted on Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 11 AM at The Church of St. John the Evangelist, 172 Main St., Hingham, Mass.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory made be made to the Friends of South Shore Hospital, 55 Fogg Road, So. Weymouth, Mass. 02190.
Interment is to be private.