A Widow’s Awakening

“A Widow’s Awakening gives a rare insight into the emotional roller coaster and psychological struggle experienced by the newly widowed wife of a police officer, senselessly killed on duty as the result of an unsafe workplace.”

- Chief Rick Hanson, Calgary Police Service

About the Book

Eight years in the making, this extraordinary – and true – story of soul mates, saints, saviours, suicide and safety in the workplace charts a young woman’s emotional, psychological, physical and spiritual journey through the first year of grief after the on-duty death of her husband, a police officer.

A Widow’s Awakening is a heart-wrenching, humorous and honest portrayal of the excruciating process of accepting the unacceptable.

20% of the book proceeds go to the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund (JPMF), a non-profit organization set up in memory of Maryanne’s husband, Cst John Petropoulos of the Calgary police service. John fell to his death while investigating a break and enter complaint at warehouse after stepping through a false ceiling, as there was no safety railing in place to warn him – or anyone else – of the danger.

“Maryanne Pope lays bare the raw, painful and sometimes embarrassing truth of what it means to lose a ‘soul mate love’ to the hazards of law enforcement, including the heart-wrenching truth that her husband didn’t have to die the way he did.”

- Chuck Remsberg, Senior Correspondent, PoliceOne/Calibre Press

About the Author

Maryanne Pope is the Board Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. She has a BA in General Studies from the University of Calgary. She writes books, short stories, essays, articles, play scripts and screenplays, as well as oversees film projects.

In March 2008, Maryanne was selected to participate in the Pan Western Film Mission to New York City. She has also been the recipient of several writing awards for her short stories and play scripts. She has been a guest on Global, Shaw, BTV, CTV, CBC and QR77 radio in Alberta, as well as appearing in the Calgary Herald, Calgary Sun, Metro and 24 Hours newspapers. Maryanne has been asked to speak at events and conferences about her experience as a police widow and is currently booking speaking engagements.

“A Widow’s Awakening is just that: a waking up of the soul. It is my hope that by sharing the intimate details of my personal loss, I can inspire others to awaken to what’s important in their own lives and the world around them … and if something needs changing - be that on an individual, societal, environmental or political level - to do it.” - Maryanne Pope

“John’s death and Maryanne’s life bring to the forefront the issue of workplace safety after hours – when our community is asleep we are protecting their businesses, properties and investments, which are often themselves the very menace we face. Maryanne inspires us to carefully continue putting one foot in front of the other while demanding that the community protect us as we protect them.”

- Staff Sergeant Darren Leggatt, Calgary Police Service