Damn it, she sounded so optimistic just last week. 
I started to read this thread & thought, “Wha? No way…! This is NOT funny.”
This still isn’t funny and it never will be; its more like… numb. Opal, you were funny & sweet & too soon gone. I have no illusion about life, death and afterlife I guess. But It makes me sad that someday I might actually post something funny… and you won’t be out there to read it.
RIP, girl.
… bye Opal…
I’ve finally stopped crying enough to post. I really liked her though I never did meet her in person. She was just a bit younger than my with one son, who was just a bit older than my one son. We had a few things in common.
I’m so sorry to hear this. My condolences to her family.
RIP Opal.
Where did you get this information? We haven’t heard about this on Fathom and it isn’t on Opalcat’s Facebook page.
What awful news.
It is on her Facebook page, 2:53 this afternoon.
According to UncleBill, her mother posted it on facebook.
I agree completely. This is so sad and shocking. I met Opal at a Dopefest, and I really liked her. I loved her art. I am still amazed at the way she captured the candle light in her portrait of Dominic. Some much goodness and talent lost.
“May the Father of Peace bring peace to all who mourn. Amen.”
She had at least two separate Facebook accounts, one for “online friends” and one for those she’d met in real life.
Suicide?
Looks like her life had taken a serious drop and then she met someone she considered wonderful. Guess it didn’t work out.
We’re in shock here.
Re Facebook: I gather she had a “public” one (for online friends like Dopers etc.) and a “private” one (for real-life friends). I’m guessing the notice was on her real-life page. Latest on her Livejournal was from February talking about a lot of things that had happened in the past few months including her plan to divorce, and a brief mention of a suicide attempt last September.
Her posting in February sounded so upbeat.
So sorry to hear this. I’m a charter member and she had already been here forever when I joined. Rest in Peace Opalcat.
Her private FB page has its most recent public entry on 3/4, so I assume the afternoon post was made to friends only.
This is sad to hear. I liked Opal’s posts and thought she was one of the more interesting Dopers. And she had her own SDMB meme. Not many Dopers can boast of that. I’ll miss her.
She was an institution here, who was never afraid to open herself up to the online world, for better or worse, warts and all. I feel for her family; this has to be immensely hard.
Oh my god, I can’t believe it. I didn’t realize she was having any marital troubles, and I was just thinking about her the other day and realized it had been awhile since I’d seen her post. Poor Dominic. We met the whole family at a CleveDopeFest at BMalion’s a few years back and they juggled for us. She was so sweet and funny. She will be missed. Rest in peace.
I am stunned. Like the other oldtimers, I remember Opal already being a huge presence here when I signed up. And I’ve seen the highs and lows she’s experienced.
My condolences to her family.
So sad. She lived a big life.