Judith Hopen

ST. LOUIS -- Judith Marie "Judy" Hopen, 51, of St. Louis died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, due to the ravages of breast cancer.

She was born Nov. 3, 1961, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of James J. and Betty S. Johnson Hopen. She graduated from Central High School in 1980.

Surviving are her mother, of Cape Girardeau; three sisters, Mary (Dennis) Drum of Hearndon, Va., Linda (Don) Shelton of Kelso, Mo., and Carolyn (Randy) Davis of Jackson; and three brothers, Thomas (Joy) Hopen of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Michael (Elaine) Hopen and Stephen Hopen of Cape Girardeau; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father; brother, Robert Hopen; and sister, Susan Hopen Carlson.

Judy was a free-spirited, artistic person who relished her life in St. Louis, where she lived all of her adult years. She made innumerable friends and loved going with them to whatever concert or music festival was currently available, and to the endless series of parties she and her friends organized. She loved a parade, taking part in many, from riding her unicycle in the '76 Bicentennial Parade and dressing as Olive Oyle in the Popeye Parade, to dressing as a leprechaun in the St. Paddy's Parade in the Irish community of St. Louis. For the last 13 years of her life -- until her illness disabled her -- she proudly created and installed labyrinths throughout the United States and the world.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel.

A celebration of life service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date in St. Mary's Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

All are welcome to wear a dress hat in honor of Judy.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Siteman Cancer Center or the American Cancer Society.

Online condolences may be shared at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.