"My deepest sympathies to your family in the loss of Mrs. hopkins. She was a wonderful Spanish teacher and thee most inspirational teacher I had. Not to mention she had the patience of a saint, we tried her patience often in class! But we all knew what a sweet and caring person she was and turned to her for guidance even outside of her class. I will always have wonderful memories of a trip to Spain with Hoppy! She will be missed."
In loving memory of
Elda Hopkins
June 6, 1927 - June 11, 2010
Elda Hopkins, 83, passed away at her home on June 11, 2010, after a
lengthy battle with multiple myeloma. Funeral services will be held at
10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at Foster's Chapel with Jeff Thayer and Greg Willert officiating. Visitation will be held Monday evening 5:00 -- 8:00 at Foster
Funeral and Cremation Center.
Elda Rina Baroni, daughter of Angelo and Giulia (Tonoli) Baroni, was born
June 6, 1927, in Pozzolengo, Italy. At the age of six, she moved with her
family to Argenteuil, a suburb of Paris, France, where she lived until
after World War II and the German Occupation of France. She received her
education in Argenteuil and Paris. She was employed by the U.S. Army as
an interpreter, where she met Keith Hopkins, who was stationed at the same
Army facility. They were married on December 14, 1946. She immigrated to
the United States in 1947 and became a naturalized citizen in 1950. Keith
and Elda lived in Colorado, California and Nebraska before moving to Iowa
in 1954. In 1958, the family settled in Webster City.
Elda's early years in the U.S. were spent raising her family and assisting
with her husband's farming operation. She later earned a Master's Degree
in French from Iowa State University and taught French and Spanish at
Webster City High School for 19 years, retiring in 1990. She enjoyed
teaching French and sharing the culture, history and art of France with
others. She led tours for more than two hundred students and others to
France and Spain as part of her teaching career, and into retirement.
After retiring, she volunteered in many ways in the community, but was
most passionate as a French teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas School and as
the coordinator of the Kendall Young Library annual book sale and girls'
formal tea parties. She and her husband enjoyed traveling, gardening and
being with family and friends. She was a member of a nondenominational
Christian fellowship for many years.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, Bill (Nina)
Hopkins of Gilroy, California; daughters Michelle (Chan) Kershner of
Tucson, Arizona, and Josi (Bill) Greenley of Webster City; and nine
grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers,
one sister, and one grandson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be given to the
Kendall Young Library or Hamilton Hospice.
Tributes
"To Michelle and Family, Thank you for sharing your mom with me. I will always remember lunch at Beyond Bread and being included in her visits to Tucson. Moms are very special and learning to miss them gracefully is tough. Loving them forever is the easy part. "
"Dear Keith & family, I just learned of Elda's passing. I am so sorry to hear that. I so enjoyed our telephone visit when she called me last Christmas. She was such a grand lady and I know she will be very missed by all. My thoughts and prayers are with you."