Heather Eva Roper
October 20, 1938 – December 23, 2025

Heather Roper passed peacefully on December 23, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of devotion, warmth,
and unmistakable spirit.
Born on October 20, 1938, in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, Heather was the daughter of Frederick and Eva
(Noller) Storey. From her earliest days, she carried a quiet strength, a sharp wit, and a generous heart.
On December 26, 1957, she married the love of her life, Eric W. Roper, in her hometown. Together they
built a partnership rooted in loyalty, laughter, and shared purpose.
In 1968, Heather and Eric took a brave leap across the ocean, immigrating to the United States with their
two daughters to begin a new chapter. Their son, Alan, was later born in the U.S., completing the family
Heather so fiercely cherished. She was a mother who anchored her family with steadiness and love, and
a wife whose bond with Eric endured for nearly seven decades. Eric preceded her in death in 2023, and
Heather joined him just days before what would have been their 68th wedding anniversary.
Heather was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings Sandra, Leonard, Margaret, and Douglas;
and her beloved husband, Eric.
She is survived by her children: Karen (Steve) Sawyer, Tania (William) Watson, and Alan (Shelley) Roper;
seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren, each of whom carries a piece of her warmth forward.
Family was Heather’s heart, and food was her love language. She did not cook in small measures. If you
visited her home or crossed her path as a friend, neighbor, group member, radiologist, or doctor, you did
not leave with a single tray of treats. You left with many. Each different. Each made with care. Feeding
people was her way of saying, “You matter.”
Heather had a presence that lingered. Warm, giving, and wickedly sarcastic in the most delightful way.
She made people feel seen. She made them laugh. And she never lost her unmistakable British accent or
her timing. Oh the look on the face of a well-meaning waitress who apologized that Diet Pepsi was
unavailable and offered Diet Coke instead, asking if that would be ok. Heather replied with mock
seriousness that was most convincing, “It most certainly will not,” before bursting into laughter that filled
the table and the room.
Heather Roper lived a life defined by love freely given, humor generously shared, and family held close.
Her kitchen, her laughter, and her way of making people feel at home will be deeply missed and forever
remembered.