Rita Marie (McCartney) Hopkins

She graduated from Saint Anne Seaton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio in June 1942. She married Dr. Scovell M. Hopkins, MD, Army Medical Corps on March 13, 1945. She attended Good Samaritan School of Nursing located in Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating as a registered nurse (RN) in May 1945.

Early married years were spent with her husband “Hop” at the Army Medical Hospital in Outwood, Kentucky, and then Cleveland, Ohio where he completed training as a thoracic surgeon at the City Hospital of Cleveland, now the Cleveland Clinic. While in Cleveland daughters Maureen, Suzanne, and son, Steven were born in 1946, 1948, and 1951 respectively. The family’s next move was to Huntington, West Virginia where Dr. Hopkins opened his first practice. After son Dennis was born there in 1955, Rita and Hop moved to Detroit, Michigan, and in July 1957, to Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, where Dr. Hopkins was one of two thoracic surgeons on the east side of Detroit and surrounding suburbs. The next 19 years were spent in Grosse Pointe Woods, where Rita was well known for her energetic activity at numerous hospital organizations, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and other philanthropic endeavors. In June 1976 Rita and Hop moved first to Boise, Idaho, followed by Topeka, Kansas, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and finally Erie, Pennsylvania, where he was Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff at Veteran’s Administration Hospitals in each location. Everywhere she went, Rita became a dedicated member and servant to many community support organizations. Rita and Hop moved to Independence Village of Brighton, Michigan in June 2004. When Hop died in June 2006, Rita remained in Brighton until October 2012. After a serious fall injury in October 2012 Rita was relocated to the Bishop Noa Home for The Aged, Escanaba, Michigan, where daughter-in-law Joy, then Chief Nurse at OSF St Francis Hospital, could best manage Rita’s medical needs.

Rita is immediately survived by her daughter Maureen (Dr. Geoffrey) Emerson of Hingham, Massachusetts; daughter Suzanne Hopkins of Erie, Pennsylvania, son Capt. Dennis (Joy) Hopkins, U.S. Navy (Ret), of Bark River, Michigan, as well as five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, three nieces, and four nephews.

Rita was predeceased by her parents, husband Scovell, son Dr Steven Hopkins, DVM, granddaughter Tess Meyers Hopkins, brother Thomas McCartney II, and sister Kathleen “Kay” Vocelle.

According to her wishes there will be no formal funeral service. A celebratory Mass of her life will be held at a future date.

The Hopkins family would like to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff, nurses, and aides at the Bishop Noa Home for their years of care and support, but especially the nurses and aides of Units I and III. They are all truly remarkable professionals.

The Hopkins family is being assisted by the Allo Coolman Funeral Homes of Escanaba and Spalding, Michigan.

Please visit www.allofh.com to send online condolences to her family.