Mollie Rose Faulkner

1931 - 2023

Mollie Rose Faulkner
May 18, 1931 - January 15, 2023
Bellingham, Washington - Mollie Rose Faulkner of Bellingham, Washington passed away late Sunday night, January 15th, only a few days after her last mug of tea. She was 91, and dearly loved by her three children and many close friends. Mollie's infectious laugh, sweet British accent, ability to bring people together through the arts, and her many passions will always define her.

Mollie was born on May 18, 1931 in London, England to Albert and Ruth Humphries. She grew up in Chingford, Essex with her older, and much taller sister, Joan. During WW II, the sisters were evacuated to the English countryside, the first time when Mollie was 8 and Joan was 9 1/2. Mollie said the 2003 British film, Carrie's War, came close to depicting her experience during that time.

She attended Woodford County High School for Girls. After high school, Mollie followed her creative passions by studying fashion design at SWE School of Art where she met her dear friend, Elizabeth. They developed a lifelong friendship full of laughter and adventure. When the National Health service put out a call for young people to become nurses, Mollie decided that would be a better career choice, as she did not think she could make a living in fashion. She was trained as a midwife, riding her bicycle, in uniform, to deliver babies and care for the elderly in their homes.

In 1954, the two friends traveled by ship to New York City, arriving on the 4th of July. The two ended up traveling through the US and Canada, living in Montreal and Banff. Mollie eventually worked as a midwife in Vancouver BC. While there, she met her first husband, architect George Bartholick, of Bellingham, Washington. He had recently come home from Finland to renew his passport. The two were married a year later, making their home on Lake Whatcom at the end of North Shore Road in a two room log cabin. They welcomed three children, Andrea, Jon and Robin. Always fearless, fun and brave, she took her children to live in England for a year in 1961 so they could get to know her family. George stayed home designing and building a new contemporary home at the lake. 10 years later, in 1971, she took her three children to Mexico for 4 months in her VW Bug so they could study the arts and crafts of many small villages. They based themselves in Guadalajara while the four of them traversed the country.

Mollie's creativity called on her again in the early 70s when she took on the historic Roeder Home for the Whatcom County Parks as the Cultural Arts Coordinator. During the 20 years she was there, Mollie developed local arts programs, classes, art festivals, dance and music festivals, brought the Folk Festival to Hovander Park and started Whatcom County in Bloom. The Roeder Home became a cultural hub for the community. She was passionate about bringing the arts to her beloved Bellingham and bringing people together. During this time, she took up spinning, Scottish Country dancing and was an avid gardener.

Her second marriage to Kaye Faulkner, in 1982, took her all over the world including Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Turkey, Panama, Sweden, Scotland and Ireland. Kaye and Mollie lived for three years in New Zealand during the early 90s, where she volunteered at the National Rugby Museum in Palmerston North. She learned to shear a sheep and prepare the wool for spinning. Both Mollie and Kaye were involved in Scottish Country Dancing, which brought them many new friends. Back in Bellingham, Mollie started the Grateful Dogs Association to advocate for her dogs and create off leash dog parks. She developed close friendships with other dog lovers who stayed by her side, especially in her last few years. She always had at least two rescue dogs. Her last rescue dog, Mariah, was by her side as she passed.

Mollie loved reading Jane Austen and owned all movie versions of her books. She developed a crush on Colin Firth, who played Mr Darcy in the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice. Afterwards, whenever she saw him on screen in any film, she put her hand on her heart, looked over with a wistful smile and sighed.

She leaves behind her three children, Andrea Bartholick Pace, Jon Bartholick and Robin Bartholick. Also her precious granddaughters, Lauren Pace, twins Miya and Aleeyah Bartholick and nieces and nephews in England.

Mollie was clever, fun and creative, always thinking of new ideas for her community. She will be fondly remembered for her kindness, great sense of humor, easy laugh and ability to get things done!

Her family wishes to thank Chris and Sharon, her off leash dog park friends, for staying by her side, caring for her dog Mariah and bringing their dogs to visit when Mollie stopped driving. Also making sure she still got out to her beloved parks. Many thanks to her private caregivers, Janet and Lauren, for bringing her joy and keeping her tea mug full. And thank you to hospice volunteer, Barbara, for her friendship and wonderful travel stories.

The family will hold a gathering in one of Mollie's favorite parks in late spring 2023, when everything is in bloom.

In Mollie's honor, please visit one of our beautiful parks, plant something, walk your dog, try spinning some wool or knitting, drink a mug of tea, eat a scone with lots of butter, dance and laugh!