'Grandma' Mary, Prime Time Cafe, RIP

zackiedawg

zackiedawg

Member
Staff member
I posted this thread way back in the early history of TMIP:
http://www.themagicinpixels.com/forum/disney_cruise_photos_lost_attractions_cast_members/grandma_mary_hoppins_50s_prime_time_cafe_my_aunt_782.0.html

And often mentioned 'Grandma' Mary Hoppins, my great aunt who worked for Disney for 15 years at the Prime Time Cafe. ; She was in her eighties and still working hard, finally retiring a little less than 2 years ago at age 87...it was getting to be too much standing on her feet all day and she had cut back her hours to only a few days a month. ; In retirement, she moved to an active adult community in central Florida where she was enjoying the community center, swimming, cards, and visits to nearby family.

Last month she started having some mild pains, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and saw a doctor for it, but there was no particular illness or problem - she was just getting old, and her lungs weren't getting as much oxygen anymore (she was a smoker for 75 years!). ; She worked through it and continued enjoying herself, until yesterday, when her body finally gave out at the ripe old age of 89. ; She lived hard and fast and loved every minute of it, worked from the time she was 13 until she was 87, and went out fairly quickly with little fuss or muss, and little pain.

She'll be missed - Prime Time Cafe will never quite be the same without her. ; But I wanted to celebrate a good life, lived well!
 
That's a wonderful story and thank you for sharing it with us. ; My condolences to you and your family.


Sent from my iPhone...
 
From our family to yours, we express our condolences. ; Be strong, my friend.
 
Thanks to all. ; Still awaiting details as to whether they'll be doing any services down here in Florida - she has one daughter who lives nearby. ; She'll be buried back in New Jersey, where most of the family resides or is buried. ; I think I should get word to Disney as well - even though she retired, she spent a long time there and was well loved by many of the other employees at Prime Time.
 
Do you plan on coming to NJ, Justin? ; There are a lot of TMIP'ers who would be glad to lend you a shoulder if you do.
 
Many thanks to all.


It sounds like the Florida family (myself, her daughter's family, and a grandson in Coral Springs, along with 10-15 of her friends from down her, will be having a memorial/Irish wake for her this weekend on Saturday. ; She's going to be cremated and buried at the family plot in Totowa, NJ (Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, owned by her sister/my other great aunt, Josephine). ; Most of my NJ family is buried there since that cemetery is in the family. ; It's a lot easier for me to make it up to Orlando area for the Irish wake, which is more fun anyway - the more conservative family up north is probably doing a somber Catholic funeral mass. ; We like the Irish wake - lots more fun, celebrating life, playing music, having some drinks, and just letting go!
 
Yes, I know her and enjoyed interacting with her at Prime Time. ; Nice to know she lived her life fully until the very end. Wonderful story, Justin.
 
Thank you both. ; Scott - that's great to know you had interacted with her at Prime Time - she always enjoyed that job, as it let her be a grandma permanently, but for play.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top