Carolyn Jeanette Hopper

Carolyn Jeanette Hopper (Ball) passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family, in the late hours of April 2, 2026, at the age of 87.

Jeanette is survived by her children, Michael (Kari) Hopper of Marcola, OR, Patrick (Jeannie) Hopper of Northport, FL, Susan Sullivan (Hopper) of Fort Collins, CO, and Stuart (Dawn) Hopper of Fort Collins, CO. Jeanette is preceded in death by her beloved husband Richard "Dick" Hopper, her parents, John and Nellie Ball, and her brother Don Ball.

Jeanette was born on January 13, 1939, in Seminole, Oklahoma, to John and Nellie Ball. She moved to Colorado early in childhood, living in several mountain towns as her family followed her father's railroad work. Jeanette was especially close to her brother Don, and often spoke fondly of their many childhood adventures together.

Jeanette graduated from Pueblo Centennial High School in 1956 and met the love of her life, Richard "Dick" Hopper. They married on January 19, 1957, and together raised four children: Michael, Patrick, Susan, and Stuart. Jeanette's steadfast love and support transformed their humble beginnings into a family legacy of warmth and achievement. She truly became the heart and matriarch of a family defined by love.
Always a devoted wife and mother, Jeanette managed their home with strength and grace while Dick pursued his college degrees and worked a demanding 30-year career. Dick's success was built upon Jeanette's unwavering support and love. Her children remember her as a mother who loved deeply, and her children's friends fondly recall her as the "cool mom" they loved to be around.

As her children grew, Jeanette became a Licensed Practical Nurse. While in nursing school, she met Janet "Jay" Roldan, who became a lifelong best friend. Together they worked on the Surgery Recovery floor at Poudre Valley Hospital, sharing laughter and tears through the years. Whether it was Bloody Marys with breakfast, driving to foreign countries, exchanging playful and sometimes inappropriate gag gifts, or burying the same bottle of Scotch in the same backwoods secret hiding hole for thirty straight years, Jeanette and Jay shared the kind of friendship we hear about in movies and books.

Jeanette often joined Dick on his hunting and fishing adventures. While Dick was a master of the fly rod, Jeanette was equally skilled with her spinning rod - a choice that conveniently let her enjoy a cigarette while she fished. She delighted in telling stories about catching bigger fish than Dick and loved to joke about how he never had her catches mounted, unlike the two of his that hung proudly in their home for years.
Jeanette was a crack shot with a gun. She actively participated in hunting for a short time, but gave it up after what she described as a "near miss" - when a shot was fired a bit too close in Dick's direction. Jeanette remarked that she was concerned any such accident would not be believable to others as an "accident."

Jeanette was passionate about her huge haul of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There wasn't a baby that she didn't love to hold and adore! Jeanette spent years and years cheering them on and supporting their various passions and endeavors. Whether that was sitting in her lawn chair on the side of a sport field, attending a concert, or watching a game or performance online, she was always their number one fan! She eagerly learned about whatever her grandkids were into - and she had the amazing ability to find a way to strike up a conversation with them about whatever they were interested in. Her grandchildren remember her as someone with a gift for making everything more entertaining and an endless capacity to love through service.

Jeanette's love language was food, as shown by the waistlines of her sons and grandsons. She was a remarkable cook and baker, though she would often say that nothing she made was ever quite as good as the first time, or as good as someone else's. For Jeanette, preparing food was more than a meal—it was her way of showing love and caring for those around her. No matter the time of day, she insisted on feeding anyone who walked through her door. After one grandson's tonsilectomy, he was released into her care for recovery - and despite the doctor's warning that losing five pounds after that particular procedure was common, the grandson ended up gaining five pounds under her special care. Jeanette not only cooked amazing meals from any wild game brought to her, but she also joined in helping process the meat. Every meal was a true act of love, and you would get the "evil eye" if you ever returned from a hunting or camping trip with any leftovers. Having Jeanette in your life meant you never had a thing to worry about whatsoever - mostly because she would do all your worrying for you, even the things you didn't need to worry about!

Jeanette was quite the jokester - she would chase you around, shooting paper projectiles with the use of a rubber band, or tell her infamous scary fables about what happens to children if they don't follow directions. Each Christmas, the entire family participated in her beloved tradition of awarding the "naughty sock" to whomever she had deemed the naughtiest that year. Nobody was spared — not even Jeanette herself, who won the award in 2025.

Not only did Jeanette spoil her grandchildren, but she also had a special love for animals. Whether it was Willow, Minnie, Pepper, or any of the family's other pets, Jeanette placed the pets at a level almost on par with human status. She loved to spoil them with cookies, treats, and lots of ear scratches!

Though technology was a frequent source of consternation in her later years, Jeanette was always ahead of her time when it came to buying the newest phone, computer, television, or cooking contraption. She enjoyed her "hookahs" and would routinely add a couple of ice cubes to her wine. Jeanette never saw a Ducks Unlimited banquet she wouldn't attend or leave without making a donation. She proudly boasted that she had outbid Denver TV newscaster Ernie Bjorkman for a piece of waterfowl art. Jeanette routinely crocheted or quilted during her retirement travels or at home - and the birth of each grandchild and great-grandchild was celebrated with a handmade baby blanket.
Whether it was through her love for her family or her adventures backpacking in the Colorado backcountry, driving down the Baja coast of Mexico, or salmon fishing in Alaska, Jeanette lived a full and remarkable life. Her entire family will miss her stories and her love.

A memorial service will be held at Bohlender's Funeral Chapel (121 W. Olive Street, Fort Collins, CO) on Saturday, April 11th at 10:00 am. Donations may be made in Jeanette's honor to Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue: Donate - Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue.