Obituary of Loretta Hopkins

Loretta "Cookie" Hopkins, passed away peacefully on Wednesday afternoon March 6, 2024 shortly after being admitted to hospice care at St. Luke's. Born Loretta Joan Preziosi December 24, 1942 to Rena (Bevalacqua) Preziosi and George Preziosi of New Village, NJ. Cookie was proud of her small-town Italian heritage. She was a graduate of Washington High School (now Warren Hills) and loved palling around with her friends and sisters Betty and Dot. She was well known in the community for her wonderful cooking, jubilant personality, overwhelming kindness, and the small chain of Bagel Deli's she founded, owned and operated. She was a savvy business woman and truly loved her craft. Prior to the deli business, Loretta assumed the operation of her father's home based business "George's Sheepskin Shop" in New Village, well known locally for offering seat covers, coats, vest, hats, slippers and mittens made from sheepskin. She had a group of lifelong friends that met monthly at their "girl's night" and served as one another's confidants through thick and thin. In 1968 she met a Marine Corps vet, Jake Hopkins, fresh out of Vietnam. They married and have remained married to the day she asked God to take her home. In 1972 they had their first son, Kevin, followed by sons Mike and Brian. As they got older, they enjoyed trips to New England and attending the Americade motorcycle convention in Lake George. They also enjoyed eating out at Texas Roadhouse, Carabas, and the Olive Garden. A devout Catholic, she never wavered in her faith and was a parishioner of St. Joseph's in Washington, NJ Cookie was predeceased in death by her parents and her two sisters, Betty Wildrick and Dorothy McDermott. She was very close to her sisters and felt an irreplaceable sense of loss with each of their passing. Cookie leaves behind her three sons, Kevin, Mike (Hillary), Brian (Natalie) and six grandchildren, Hayley, Owen, Jacob, Logan, Henry and Miranda whom she adored above and beyond all things in life. She also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, cousins and aunts as well as too many friends to count. Family and friends may pay their respects on Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 4-8 PM at Warren Hills Memorial Home, 234 W. Washington Ave., Washington, NJ 07882 A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 10:30 AM at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, 200 Carlton Ave., Washington, NJ 07882 Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Warren Hills Memorial Home. To send an online condolence please visit www.warrenhillsmemorialhome.com