Judith Marie (Judy) Hopen

Judith Marie (Judy) Hopen, 51, of St. Louis, Mo., died Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, Mo., 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 Herndon, Va., Linda (Don) Shelton of Kelso and Carolyn (Randy) Davis of Jackson; and three brothers, Thomas (Joy) Hopen of Lawrenceville, Ga., 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 Oil 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 work life - until her illness disabled her - she proudly created and installed labyrinths throughout the United States and the world.

Visitation was at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel from 4 to 8 p.m.Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. Celebration of life service was Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial was at a later date in St. Mary's Cemetery, Cape Girardeau, Mo. All were 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.