My mother, Sharon Christine Hopwood passed away on April 15th, 2022 at approximately 2 am. The cause of death is not exactly known, however she was recovering from a neck surgery to alleviate pressure on her spinal cord from two vertebrae discs. Post surgery she had contracted pneumonia and although she was fighting this off very well I think this left her very weak and exhausted. During her recovery in the hospital she was visited by myself and my brother and I know she felt loved by her children up unto her passing. She was 73 years of age.
Sharon Christine Hopwood was born in Twin Falls, Idaho on January 21st, 1949 to her loving parents Eugene Kenneth Holler (From Utah) and Christine C. Chapman (From Oklahoma). She and her family eventually relocated out to Palmdale, California in 1956 where she would attend Palmdale HS where she stood out as an exemplary student and graduated in 1967. She would then go on to attend the prestigious school of Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. By 1971, she had already earned her Bachelors degree in Psychology and Early Childhood Development and graduated with honors. She knew she wanted to help kids in need and decided to go work as a children's therapist. She also ran a jewelry business called La Chateau Jewelers in Simi Valley for several years. Later on in the 80's she returned to her schooling and attended Cal State University of Northridge. She would go on to earn her Masters Degree in Psychology in 1988. This allowed her to start her long career with Department of Children Services of Los Angeles county in 1991 and later retired towards the end of 2019. She had helped countless children improve their living situations and even escape abuse over these 28 years of service and that I believe this is part of her legacy.
My mother was married to my father John R. Hopwood in Santa Barbara in 1972 and this marriage would endure until 1988. They would eventually give birth to a daughter Tanya Hopwood in October of 1975 and then twin boys, Jonathan and Jeremy Hopwood in September of 1982. She was also married to Barry Reynolds from 2005 until 2010 to whom she shared some of her travel experiences with. She would eventually welcome her first grand son into her life in April of 2015 to whom she adored. I believe she really loved and enjoyed having her kids and did her very best to both care and raise all three of us growing up. My mother is also survived by her two brothers Tony Holler of Nevada and Michael Holler of Colorado. I believe she is resting up in heaven now with her beloved twin sister Pamela Chapman-Holler as well as her loving parents.
I like to bring things to a closure by talking a bit about what brought her joy in this life: Shopping and Traveling. I truly believe that if "Professional Shopper" was on the list of occupations growing up her life could have gone a different direction. LOL. She definitely was a women who liked to dress fashionably and really loved her shoes! My mother also really enjoyed traveling. Some of the amazing places my mom has traveled to include Bora Bora, Tahiti, Hawaiian islands of Maui, O'ahu, Kauai and Big Island, Saint Martin, Alaska, Costa Rica and China. And of course she loved shopping at these places too! I am very glad that I was able to join her on two trips with her to both Maui and the Big Island not just because these are amazing places to be but because I got to see my mom in her most happiest moments. I will always hold these sweet memories of her close to my heart.
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