Obituary: Anne Elizabeth "Nancy" Hopkins, 86, of Branford

Obituary courtesy of W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home:

Anne Elizabeth Hopkins passed away on Sunday May, 29 at the age of 86. Anne, known to family and friends as Nancy, was caring, warm and witty. She grew up in Brighton, Massachusetts and met the love of her life, Bill, while on a double date in high school. Nancy and Bill continued courting while Nancy attended Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Connecticut. They fell in love, married in June of 1958, and settled in Branford, Connecticut.

Nancy became a mother of five children and created a family life filled with happiness and unconditional love, even when her kids entered the bold and rebellious years of adolescence. She had a full life and was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and “Grandma Nancy” to her grandchildren. She had an easy smile, a giving nature and carried a faint whisper of a Boston accent.

She commenced a career as a realtor, and in time started her own successful real estate firm, Village Realty. She enjoyed this line of work and the many relationships she built throughout the years in the business. Upon retiring from real estate, Nancy and Bill began wintering at Laguna Woods in Orange County, California, savoring time together, playing tennis, meeting friends for dinner, walking the shoreline, and discovering all the West Coast had to offer.

After Bill’s sudden passing in 2007, Nancy eventually found happiness again through travel. She became a zealous and adventurous traveler, exploring remote areas of the world with her friend Betty. Nancy had a strong and resilient faith and was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Branford. She was a lifelong member of the Pine Orchard Country Club and honed her tennis skills over the years to effectively outmaneuver Bill’s wicked backspin. She also enjoyed a wide circle of friends, many of whom she played weekly afternoon bridge with.

Nancy had a green thumb and was known for her perfectionism on her yard and gardens. Nancy cultivated and shared perennials with family and friends to propagate creating a legacy through her flowers. Nancy was a talented seamstress, a skill she acquired in her youth and often designed and sewed many of her own clothes. While retired, she let go of all fears and attended clown school, concluding the course by sewing a classic clown costume and adopting the stage name of Fancy Nancy. On Halloween, “Fancy Nancy” handed out candy to any brave child that dared come to the door.

A curator of good times, she enjoyed hosting holiday dinners and relaxing with a crisp chardonnay. An ardent basketball fan, Nancy delighted in rooting for both the Boston Celtics and the UConn Women’s team. An avid art enthusiast, she appreciated both live theatre and the visual arts. She was a book lover and enjoyed perusing the Sunday New York Times, particularly the word games.

Nancy joins her husband William (Bill) in heaven and is survived by her five devoted children Mark (Kim Girven), Ellen, Anne (Bruce Margosian), Greg, and Brian (Ronda) as well as her five loving grandchildren; William, Jack, Ryan, Nora, and Avery. She treasured visits and letters from her children and grandchildren.

Nancy was predeceased by her twin brother James Henry Francis of Oakland, California and is survived by her cherished sister Mary Louise Brzezenski of Lexington, Massachusetts.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary Church of St. John Bosco Parish in Branford. Nancy will be buried alongside her husband Bill at the Old Branford Center Cemetery on Montowese Street in Branford following the Mass. Friends may call prior to the Mass from 9:00 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. at the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St. Branford.