Adieu Lynne Popham
Lynne Popham will be remembered as a woman with a great sense of humour and sharp wit who was dedicated to her family, friends and community.
Lynne died peacefully at home on February 19 aged 60 after a brave battle with cancer.
She will be known to many through her work at four Fairfax community newspapers;
and
Her first main job was for leading publishing company Harlequin, taking care of the
book series.
She started as an accountant, then moved into marketing and became the company’s international marketing director. Her career spanned 20 years and took her all over the world including Australia, China, Japan, India and Europe.
She lived in Toronto, Canada for three years before returning home to New Zealand in 2001.
Lynne bought a house in 2002 in Waipapa and for a time commuted to Auckland for work. In 2008 she took up the position of Northern Regional Manager with Fairfax Media based in Kerikeri.
She also established the successful Far North Real Estate publication.
Lynne was first diagnosed with cancer in 2009. After treatment she was given a clean bill of health, but it returned in 2014 during which time she kept working until leaving Fairfax in 2016.
Her partner Bruce Laloli says she enjoyed the community side of the job and being involved in the community working with local businesses.
‘‘She loved living up here, she felt like a local. She felt she made a contribution to the community through the newspapers.’’
One of her biggest passions was literature and books and she was interested in world affairs and politics.
‘‘She was very intensely interested in literature and the English language. She had an amazing book collection.’’
Lynne and Bruce first met at high school in Otahuhu, Auckland and were childhood sweethearts. Their paths crossed again in 2005 and they got back together.
Lynne was from a big family - she had five brothers and two sisters, and was aunty to lots of nieces and nephews. She was also much loved by Bruce’s three children, and the couple’s two terrier schnauzer dogs Frank and Molly.
She will be greatly missed.