Thelma M. Hopkins

Thelma M. Hopkins, age 77, of Elizabeth, Illinois, died at home with her family on Friday, December 22, 2006. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 3, 2007, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Elizabeth, Illinois. Father Chris Kuhn will officiate. Pursuant to her wishes, Thelma’s family has given the gift of donating her body to science. A memorial fund has been established for FHN Hospice, Freeport, Illinois in Thelma’s memory.
Thelma was born on July 5, 1929, in rural Elizabeth, Illinois, the daughter of George and Bertha (Wand) Banwarth. Thelma attended Barett Contry School and graduated from Elizabeth High School with the class of 1946. On June 15, 1946, Thelma married Howard Hopkins. Howard died on November 29, 1990.
Thelma worked at Elizabeth Nursing Home for twenty-seven years. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Elizabeth, Illinois. Thelma loved to travel, play cards, and work in her garden and yard. She felt very fortunate to live her dream of going to Ireland. She had a special cat “Pumpkin”. Most of all Thelma loved being a Mom and Grandma.
Thelma is survived by five daughters Vicki (Tom) Ertmer, of East Dubuque, Illinois, Kathy (Karl) Richards of Lena, Illinois, Betty (Mike) Harrenstein of Rib Lake, Wisconsin, Mary (Ken) VanHauen of Pecatonica, Illinois and Lori Hopkins of Freeport, Illinois; one son Bill Hopkins of Elizabeth, ten grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild on the way; two sisters Rosemary Murray of Galena, Illinois and Elsie Mae (Fred) Aide of Hazel Green, Wisconsin.
Her parents, three brothers and three sisters preceded Thelma in death.
Thelma’s family wishes to thank FHN Hospice for their loving care.