Pandora Cooper-Key, sister of model Cressida Bonas, has sadly passed away at the age of 51 after a long and arduous battle with cancer.
Her journey with the disease began 24 years ago, and she recently shared with Femail that her family had been preparing for her funeral multiple times due to her ongoing struggles, including a particularly challenging inoperable brain tumor.
Pandora, who lived in West London, was first diagnosed with cancer at 26 back in 2000.
By late last year, doctors discovered a tumor on the left side of her skull that they couldn’t operate on.
Despite this, she underwent rounds of immunotherapy in hopes of recovery. Pandora’s determination and resilience were evident when she spoke about the difficulty of her condition, saying that any surgical intervention would involve navigating through critical blood vessels.
Pandora was the half-sister of Cressida Bonas and the daughter of former It girl Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon and aristocrat Esmond Cooper-Key. Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon has been married four times.
With her first husband, Esmond Cooper-Key, she had Pandora. Her second marriage to John Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe produced Georgiana and Jacobi Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe. Her third marriage to entrepreneur Jeffrey Bonas brought Cressida Bonas into the world.
After Lady Mary-Gaye’s separation from John Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, he went on to have two more children, Gabriella Wilde and Octavia Elsa Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe, who are close to Cressida.
Pandora’s health struggles were severe and multifaceted. Diagnosed with Paget’s disease at 26, she left her role as a handbag designer for Vivienne Westwood to focus on her family.
Just five weeks after giving birth, she was hit with the devastating news of sarcoma in her left eye and sinus area. Sarcomas, which are exceptionally rare, only appear a few times in a doctor’s career.
Despite a grim prognosis of just 10 months to live, Pandora’s condition was misdiagnosed, and she was later informed that she was in the clear. However, more tumors followed, including one in her cheek and another in her nose.
Legacy of Creativity and Resilience
In 2016, Pandora faced a difficult period with frequent seizures but continued to pursue her passions.
In 2022, she launched a ceramics business named Curzon Blue, inspired by her love for glassware and a heartfelt tribute to her mother.
The name, Curzon Blue, reflects her family heritage and a special cocktail created by her mother’s fourth husband.
Throughout her battle with cancer, Pandora’s strength shone through as she remained actively involved in her business and shared her passion for glassware with her community. She continued to search for pieces for her business at markets, finding solace in her work despite her health challenges.
Pandora leaves behind her two sons from her previous relationship with TV producer Matthew Mervyn-Jones. Her spirit and legacy will undoubtedly be remembered fondly by those who knew and admired her.
TDPel Media
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