CANDACE K HOPKINS, 56, of West Roxbury died peacefully on Tuesday, June 1, after thriving with breast cancer for several years. She was in the presence of her dear friends, Jeremy Richman and Lena & Matthew Winston.
Candace was born on August 28, 1953 in Niskayuna, New York. She is survived by her mother, Barbara Hopkins, her siblings Lynn (Watson), Stephen, Mark, Judy (Giovangelo) and Susan. Candace was a loving “auntie” to nieces Christine Hopkins and Jenna Giovangelo and nephews Sam Hopkins, Jesse Hopkins, Brett Bartlett, Michael Giovangelo, Brady Bartlett and Max Hopkins. She joins her beloved nephew, Benjamin Giovangelo, and her father, Charles I. Hopkins Jr. in spirit.
Candace was a valued employee for several years at MIT’s Alumni Office, General Electric, Pier One Imports-Walpole and HMI in Norwood. She was a gifted graphic artist who in recent years was known to generously donate her talent and time in creating promotional materials for various small businesses, individuals and organizations.
In addition, Candace was a professional actress (long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild) having movie roles in “Blown Away”, “Housesitter”, “Mermaids”, and the hilarious internet comedy “Meet the Mayfarers” (www.mayfarers.com), to name just a few. Throughout her life Candace was active in many community theatres including The Footlight Club in Jamaica Plain, America’s oldest community theatre. Some of her most treasured roles were Fraulein Schneider in “Cabaret,” Princess Winnifred in “Once Upon a Mattress,” Miss Mackay in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” Bananas in “House of Blue Leaves,” and Flora in “27 Wagons Full of Cotton” for which she was nominated for Best Actress at a New England Theatre Conference competition in the 90s. Candace’s final live theatre appearance was in her original “Memoirs of a Diva” performed at the Footlight Club in the spring of 2009.
Candace’s diverse life held even more room for other exciting adventures. She had a beautiful soprano singing voice and was often a soloist at weddings and various church services. She has also been well known as a spiritual medium in the New England region. She was the creator and facilitator of “Beautiful You” workshops to help build self-esteem in women. Her final project was directing a group of teens in a variation of STOMP for a fundraising concert to take place in Franklin, MA on 10/10/10 to benefit the organization “Ben Speaks Louder Than Words” (named for her late nephew, Benjamin) which has a primary mission of “stomping out teen suicide.” This project was just one of the many ways Candace influenced the children in her life. Her effervescent enthusiasm and ability to tell tales, dress up, write and perform skits and songs, and make merriment made her a perfect “auntie” to many, many children including the Winston girls, Nouelle, Rebecca and Gabriella.
Candace’s presence will be deeply missed by so many. For that reason, a “Celebration of Life” will be held in Candace’s honor on Sunday, June 13 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Footlight Club, 7 Eliot Street, Jamaica Plain. All family and friends are encouraged to attend to share stories, sing songs and enact favorite scenes. Candace’s deepest wish has always been for us all to have a party at her passing. Donations may be made to the Candace Hopkins Memorial Fund, c/o People’s Federal Savings Bank, 1905 Centre St., West Roxbury, MA 02132. Funds will be used toward final expenses with any remainder donated to a breast cancer charity.