Diana Andree Roper, 89, passed away January 3 in Nashville, TN. Mrs. Roper was born in Sawston Cambridgeshire, UK, and moved to the Port Orange area in 1983. She loved to spend time with her family, travel, antique collecting, and doing latch hook rug. Mrs. Roper is survived by three sons, Simon Philip, Edgewater, Adam Paul, New Smyrna Beach, and Jason Evered, Edgewater; one daughter, Nina Madeline Roper, New Smyrna Beach; one sister, Anthia White, Swaffam, England; five grandchildren, Joshua, Deven, Chelsea, James, and Rebecca; five great grandchildren, Rosalee, Collin, Declan, Braxton, and Callum.
EULOGY:
Our Mum, born April 28, 1931, to parents Clifford Ewing Ling and Dora Emily Kate Ling in Sawston, England. Mum enjoyed a wonderful unbringing living in Castle Headingham, spending time with her grandparents and her best friend Joan, who was her cousin, they were like sisters. Mum told us many stories of the fun they got up to. Mum helped in the family businesses, from the post office and hardware shop to the building company called Ling Builders. She always remembered how caring and loving her parents and grandparents were to the local people in the village. Mum went on to private school but loved her summer holidays back in Castle Headingham.
Mum met Ron, our father, in 1951 and married in 1953 and later that year had the first of 4 children, Simon Philip. Then Adam Paul in 1957, Nina Madeline in 1960, and Jason Evered in 1963.
In 1953 they moved to Linton Cambridgeshire and then up to #5 Rivey Way in 1963 where they lived for 20 years and raised their 4 children. The children enjoyed a wonderful childhood in a loving and caring home. Mum was also a foster parent for many years. Growing up we never knew how many kids were going to be at the house when we got home from school. They were wonderful parents that taught us to do the right thing and to always enjoy what we had. They would take us on wonderful family holidays driving the family car with a small trailer in tow to Europe, camping in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Switzerland.
Mum was also a great animal lover and we always hand plenty of pets to take care of. Mum used to raise Siamese cats and we often had five or six kittens running around as well as the family pets. Dad used to say the house was full of cats and kids. We were always encouraged to try new things. We used to sing in the local church choir where we would practice on Wednesdays and sing two services on Sundays. Sundays there was always a Sunday roast dinner where we were told not to put our elbows on the table and to not use our forks as shovels. Sunday lunch was always a great time to tell Mum and Dad what we had been up to all week long. We will always remember the colorful language Mum would use when the car wouldn't start on a cold and frosty morning. We would always get to school on time but laugh the whole way. After school we would be playing in the back garden picking apples and berries, playing football until Mum would say dinner is ready and your father will be home in a minute. What fun we had!
We would go with Mum to the local jumble sales and auctions and pick up Nic Nac's of all sorts to sell at our antique stalls we setup on the weekends. Mum always had a good eye for an antique and a bargain.
Mum also worked as a charity organizer for the Royal National Institute for the Blind and also worked for Helped the Aged and Dr. Barnado's Children's Charity too. Mum always raised more money than the year before. Eventually they moved to the United States of America in 1984 where Mum and Dad still enjoyed working. They both worked for the Conklin Center for the Blind and Mum later worked at WORC Haven for disabled adults. Mum still enjoyed and loved going to garage sales and antique shops looking for that one thing she had to take home.
They both loved spending time with their children and grandchildren. They still loved to travel and did so around the United States and also going back home to Europe.
Mum and Dad were always together in life and now are once again together.
Love you Mum. Love you Dad.
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