Nevelyn S. Hopkins

Nevelyn Doris (Spangler) Hopkins, 87, of Harris Rd, Nashua, died Monday, July 7, 2003, at the Reflections Alzheimer's Program, Greenbriar Terrace Healthcare, where she had resided since 1997. Mrs. Hopkins was born February 9, 1916, in Pulaski, VA, daughter of the late Ethel Holmes (Meredith) Daniel and the late Charles Walter Spangler. She was predeceased on July 6, 1996, by her husband, John Raleigh Hopkins, whom she married, in Virginia, on December 21, 1941. In her early adult years, Mrs. Hopkins worked as a court stenographer and then as an administrative secretary for 20th Century Fox Studios. Later she developed a career as a private caterer in New Jersey and eventually in Arizona. She was a former chef at Scottsdale Country Club, in Scottsdale, AZ, and at Desert Hills Country Club, in Carefree, AZ. During her retirement years, she was the beloved daycare mom for her grandson and for children of close friends. She enjoyed traveling, camping, photography, gardening and delighting others with her elegant gourmet recipes. She will be fondly remembered for her determination, strong work ethic, love for children, humor and compassion for others. After graduating from Pulaski High School, Mrs. Hopkins nurtured her career and hobbies by completing coursework in catering and culinary arts at New York Institute of Dietetics and Phoenix College and by completing coursework at the New York Institute of Photography. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Kathleen Hopkins, of Amherst, NH; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Scott and Kristie Hopkins, of Phoenix, AZ; two granddaughters, Heather Hopkins and Alison Hopkins, both of Amherst, NH; and her many friends at the Reflections Alzheimer's Program, and Arizona friends who continued their loving support throughout her illness. A private memorial service is being arranged. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to make a memorial donation to the Day Away Program – an Alzheimer's Respite Day Program – at St. John Neumann Church, 708 Milford Rd, Merrimack, NH 03054, to be used to help develop additional Day Away programs.