Matilda Rose Hopkins

Matilda Rose (Vormwald) Hopkins, 82, of Wheelock St., died Saturday, September 27, 2008, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Residence in Worcester. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Philip L. Hopkins of Oxford; nine children, James P. Hopkins of Oxford, William W. Hopkins and his wife Linda Daniels of Providence, RI, Michael P. Hopkins and his wife Barbara of Oxford, Mark G. Hopkins of Oxford, Nancy L. Hopkins of North Miami, FL, Mary P. Hoffman and her husband Richard of Alfred, NY, Heidi A. Aronofsky and her husband Rick of Wilmington, Laurie H. Kane and her husband John of Natick, and Colleen M. Pappas and her husband Chris of Oxford; twenty- two grandchildren, two great grandsons, and several nephews and nieces. Her oldest son, Philip L. Hopkins Jr., died in 2004. She was born in Cortland, NY, the daughter of the late Philip J. and Mary E. (O'Connor) Vormwald. She graduated from St. Mary's High School in Cortland, NY, in 1943, received her bachelor's degree from Syracuse University in 1947. She moved to Oxford in 1951.

She was a nurturer. Besides caring for her 10 children, there were dogs and cats, and the neighborhood children who knew her as Mrs. Hopkins. Once she saved a boy who was drowning in a neighbor's pool. She welcomed the many birds to her feeders in winter, planted her herbs and tomatoes in spring, enjoyed her many blossoming flowers in summer, and reaped her harvest in fall.

After enabling her husband to build a successful business with her love and devotion, she embarked on her own career. A registered nurse, she earned a master's degree from Clark University and became Director of Continuing Care at Hubbard Regional Hospital in Webster for many years, retiring in 1991. She was director of the Hubbard Regional Hospital Guild and was a Corporator of the hospital. Mrs. Hopkins was a member of St. Roch's Church in Oxford.

She was a patient listener with a keen sense of humor. She had a writer's sense and her notes to family and friends reflected her love of language. She enjoyed music and reading. She fostered those appreciations in her children with music lessons and instruments, and many trips to the public library, which, in her later years, she supported in its efforts to build an addition.

She enjoyed walking and upon retiring she and her husband joined a gym, continuing her fitness routine until her recent illness. Not one to boast of her own achievements, she took quiet pride in her children and many grandchildren who felt her influence in many ways, from the birthday cards that always came to the smiles and hugs and the compassion and empathy that was always there.

A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2008, at St. Roch's Church, 332 Main St., Oxford. Private burial will be at a later date at St. Roch's Cemetery, Oxford. The family will accept condolences on Tuesday, September 30, 2008, from 5-8 p.m. at Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Rose Monahan Hospice Residence, 10 Judith Road, Worcester, MA 01602.

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