Sister Mary Hopkins, OP, died July 20, 2024, at Sinsinawa Mound, Sinsinawa, Wis. Her wake and funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 at St. Joseph Church, Sinsinawa. Casey-McNett Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
She was born May 13, 1941, to John and Mary (McCormick) Hopkins in Milwaukee, Wis. She professed vows with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa in 1961 and received the religious name of Sister Mary Goretti. She graduated from Edgewood College, Madison, Wis., with a degree in elementary education and received an MS in pastoral counseling from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore.
Her ministry was dedicated to teaching, counseling, spiritual direction, and retreat preaching. In Illinois, Sister Mary taught at St. Basil School and Immaculate Conception School and was a counselor and spiritual director at St. William Parish, all in Chicago. She served as a pastoral associate at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, River Forest. In Montana, Sister Mary taught at St. Peter, Anaconda. She ministered as the coordinator of a city-wide religious education program, as pastoral associate at Cathedral of St. Helena Parish, and as diocesan director of religious education for the Diocese of Helena. In Colorado, she taught at St. Dominic School, Denver. Sister Mary ministered as a third- and fourth-age consultant and retreat preacher for congregations of religious women and men as well as for dioceses throughout the country. Sister Mary was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Philip and Joseph; and a sister, Therese Hopkins. She is survived by a brother, John (Mary Lou) Hopkins; sisters Susan Hopkins (Frank Melzl), Frances (Pat) Quinn, and Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa Maggie Hopkins, OP; nieces and nephews; and her Dominican Sisters. Memorials may be made to the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, Wis., 53824, or given online at www.sinsinawa.org/donate.