Maribeth Ellen Bopes

1955 - 2024

Maribeth Bopes

May 9, 1955 - December 1, 2024

Maribeth Ellen Bopes, 69, of Moline, passed away Sunday, December 1, 2024, in the comfort of her home.

Maribeth was born May 9, 1955, in Walnut Creek, Calif., the daughter of Walter Harmon and Gwendolyn Eulalia (Vering) Lord. She married Gregory Van Bopes on October 15, 1977, in Rock Island.

Maribeth grew up in Moline, Illinois. She graduated as an RN from Black Hawk College and returned to school to complete her BSN in 2009, graduating with honors. She was an Obstetrics Nurse for 43 years, starting at Franciscan in Rock Island and ultimately finishing her career at Unity Point in Moline. MB was a dedicated, empathetic nurse and for that, her patients and colleagues loved her. Not surprisingly, she was bestowed the Daisy Award for excellence in nursing. During her nursing years she championed the March of Dimes as the charity closest to her heart. MB retired from Unity Point in January 2020. After her retirement she spent time doing what she loved most, gardening, traveling, Saturdays by the pool, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Maribeth loved to garden and truly believed you could never have too many plants or flowers, a character trait that has been passed down, even to her grandchildren. She was exceptional at growing tomatoes, only to have all the beautiful tomatoes eaten by whatever critters lived nearby. Nevertheless, she persisted. She loved/hated watching the Cubs and the Bears and was lucky enough to see Eberflus fired. She enjoyed the yearly traversing of the country with her sisters, traveling to many of our beautiful National Parks, which always made for good Christmas gifts. Even though her sisters probably saw more of the parks, as she was a slow walker, she cherished that time. MB has a tight group of gals that made the most of spending time together, for birthdays, get togethers, concerts, festivals, and just summers by the pool.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Greg; her father, Walter; and her brother-in-law, David Corkery.

Survivors include her children, Kathryn (Jay) Miklas, Pepperell, Mass., and Benjamin Bopes, Moline; mother, Eulalia Lord, Moline; brother, Rod (Sandy) Lord, Waikanae, New Zealand; sisters, Margaret (Richard) Spitznas, Puyallup, Wash., Cindy Corkery, Moline, Nancy (Tom) Welty, Minneapolis, Minn.; and grandchildren, Myah, Praza, Raadek Miklas and Zoli Bopes; nieces, Zoe Lord (Jack Greasley), Mill Valley, Calif., Sophie Lord (Olie Wilson) Wellington, New Zealand and an exceptional group of friends that have been together forever.

Visitation will be Monday, December 9, 2024, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Rafferty Funeral Home, 2111-1st St A, Moline. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Condolences may be left at www.RaffertyFunerals.com.