Frances M. Hopkins

Frances Mary Hopkins, 82, of Stockton, N.J., died peacefully on Friday, July

3rd, 2015 in her home surrounded by her loving family.

She was predeceased by her devoted husband, Gerald J. Hopkins, to whom she

was married for 62 years.

Frances met her husband, Gerald, while working for the Lipton Tea company in Hoboken, N.J.

She devoted the rest of her life to her husband and family. She was a wonderful cook, wife,

mother and grandmother. She loved gardening, Oprah, reading, and reading about Oprah. She

loved children, all children, and she had a unique ability to instantly connect with them.

Although life's circumstances denied her the opportunity to pursue higher education, she was

fiercely bright, intellectually curious, and relentless in her encouragement to her family to

pursue their goals, whatever their path in life might be.

Frances was also a great listener and dispenser of advice. This was both a gift and a curse.

Family, friends (and sometimes perfect strangers) could sense her empathy and would often

unburden all of their problems at their earliest opportunity. She would always listen patiently

and then gently suggest a course of action which, although not always welcome, was typically

both insightful and correct.

Frances was a compassionate, generous and nonjudgmental person who was adored by her

family. She is already greatly missed.

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, she was one of seven children of Mary Rita Sullivan and

Henry Carl Mueller. She is survived by her children, Eileen Baumann and her husband, Robert,

and Gerald J. Hopkins Jr. and his wife, Jo Anne, all of Stockton, N.J., as well as her nephew,

Robert L. Costello of Williamsburg, VA. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren,

Scott Liggett and his wife Valerie, Lori Liggett, Kristen Lubold, Kaycie Hopkins, Daniel

Hopkins, and Kerry Bonci, and her husband, Tyler; her great-grandchildren, Haley, Paige and

Jared Lubold, and her brothers, Charles Mueller of Cranford, N.J., and John Mueller of

Woodstock, Georgia. She was predeceased by her brother Joseph, and by her sisters, Mary

Mueller, Katherine Costello and Margaret Stratton.

In lieu of flowers, Frances wished that contributions in her memory may be made to the

Flemington Food Pantry.

Services are private and are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147

Main Street, Flemington, NJ.

Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to leave an online condolence.