Elaine Janet (Long) Hooper, age 77, of Dayville, CT, formerly of Mansfield, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, CT. Janet was the daughter of the late Edward and Gladys (Dostie) Long.
She is survived by her beloved husband of fifty-five years, James Hooper, Sr., daughter Michelle Brunelle and her husband David of Norton, MA,
son James Hooper, Jr. and his wife Stacie of Mansfield, MA, and
daughter Kerri Stetson and her husband Mark of Lancaster, MA.
Known to many as Red or Mad Red, Janet was born in Dorchester, MA on March 14 ,1948. She met Jimmy when she was a teenager working at their neighborhood Dunkin Donuts. They started dating, but Jimmy’s Naval deployment interrupted their time together. While docked for a short port stop in Novia Scotia, he was surprised by Janet, who had decided to take a road trip in her Volkswagen Beetle to visit him. That was the moment he knew she was the one. They were married in 1971 and soon after settled in Mansfield, MA to raise their family. In 2002 they relocated to Dayville, a small town nestled in the quiet corner of Connecticut.
Janet was an amazing homemaker and took great pride in her family. She was the adoring grandmother of Taylor, Olivia, Madison, Declan, Brandon, and Kylie.
Her youthful spirit and love for games was contagious. She was a “semi-professional” bingo player, and you could find her at any one of her favorite halls at least four times a week. She loved her breakfasts with her friends at the Galley, coloring, arts and crafts, and going to the beach. Janet also loved to pop in for surprise visits and a cup of tea; her niece Sharon and her husband Frank’s house was one of her favorite stops. She could be seen with a Dunkin coffee cup everywhere she went and you knew she loved you if she raised her fist and threatened to give you a “noogie.” Although she didn’t realize it, she was the life of the party, and she will be sorely missed by her friends and family.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Saturday, January 31st from 12:00-3:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main Street, Mansfield.
A funeral service will be held at the conclusion of visitation at 3:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home. Burial will take place privately at a later date at the Spring Brook Cemetery in Mansfield.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com