The Aurora Historical Society is honored to be a part of the legacy of Nancy Smith Hopp. To make a gift in Nancy’s memory, please use the form below.
From the obituary:
Hopp, Nancy Smith, 79, passed away March 23, 2023. A lifelong resident of Aurora, she was born on November 1, 1943 and completed her entire K-12 education in the West Aurora schools graduating from West Aurora High School with the Class of 1961. She then went on to Aurora University where she earned a BA in Social Sciences and her MS in Business Management.
Nancy enjoyed a long and successful career in management positions with several health care organizations including Association for Individual Development, Mercy Center for Health Care Services and Dreyer Medical Clinic from which she retired in 2007 after serving 12 years as their Director of Marketing.
Nancy loved all forms of art, music, nature, writing and her church. Always active in the community, retirement provided her the time to delve more deeply into those passions. She wrote her book “Warm Light, Cool Shadows,” and gave many presentations about renowned Aurora artist Ruth Van Sickle Ford. She became an avid volunteer, advocate and a dedicated board member of The Conservation Foundation, a Trustee for the Fox Valley Park District and she continued her lifelong involvement with New England Congregational church in many leadership roles.
Always wanting to recognize others, Nancy herself was honored with several awards including The Kiwanis Service to God and Fellowman Award, The YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, and New England Congregational Church’s Christian Service Award. She also loved waterskiing, boating, road trips and her cats. But her greatest sources of joy were her 43-year marriage to her husband Jim, her talented son Tom and her 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
Nancy was preceded in death by her husband Jim and her parents Dudley and Margaret (McWethy) Smith, and her brother David. She is survived by her son Tom Reid (Emilia Rondinini Reid); grandchildren Erin (Mike) Evenson, James Reid (Ashley) Warren, Timothy Reid Warren, McKenna Reid, Marley Reid, Camila Rondinini, Victor Barreto, Lucas Barreto and great grandchildren Carson, Caroline, Catherine and Carter Warren. She is also survived by a sister, Barbara (Smith) Banker and a brother, Frank (Marla) Smith.
Memorials in Nancy’s memory may be made to New England Congregational Church, The Conservation Foundation, The Aurora Historical Society, The Optimist Club of Aurora, Bob’s Hill Troop 3 (Boy Scouts of America) or a charity of the donor’s choice.
A Celebration of Life will take place on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 11 AM at New England Congregational Church, 406 W. Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL 60506.
Arrangements were handled by The Healy Chapel, Aurora, IL. To sign the online guestbook please visit www.healychapel.com 630-897-9291.
