Dolores Ann Hopfinger

Dolores Ann Hopfinger, 89, Raytown, MO, passed away September 21, 2023. Visitation will be at 8:30 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. September 29, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Redemptorist) Catholic Church, 3333 Broadway Boulevard, Kansas City, MO. Burial immediately following at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Dolores was born January 20, 1934, to Ralph and Dolores Hernandez in Kansas City, MO. On April 14, 1956, she married Arthur Hopfinger at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Kansas City, MO. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart Elementary School and Redemptorist High School. Dolores was never one to stay idle. She juggled employment, community service, and lending a hand to anyone who needed one all while running the household, taking care of her parents, grandmother, loads of pets, and other people’s children. For a good portion of her life, she could be found sitting in bleachers in all kinds of weather cheering on her children's teams from Our Lady of Lourdes, O’Hara, YMCA, Raytown Little League, and Raytown Girls Softball League. She primarily worked seasonally at the Internal Revenue Service and when the children were older she took on more hours at LifeData Medical Services eventually turning into full-time employment. After retirement, she took on a paper route and cleaned houses. She considered this her exercise, even though you could still regularly find her on the NordicTrack. When the children were younger she worked a myriad of part-time jobs - a ceramic shop, a real estate office, a furniture upholstery shop, and typing insurance reports at home. She deftly worked these jobs around the family schedule so much so that the children never fully realized how much she worked outside of the house while still maintaining the home with no additional help. She enjoyed volunteering with church and school activities for the social aspect, but truly had a heart for service. Some of the organizations and duties she was involved with included Camp Fire USA, Boy Scouts of America, Our Lady of Lourdes PTA, Our Lady of Lourdes Altar and Rosary Society, O’Hara High School Booster Club where she was a proficient organizer of the football concession stands, Seton Center, and St. Joseph Medical Center where she acquired enough hours to be recognized as an ambassador. She also enjoyed being a friend to elderly ladies and taking them to lunch and to run their errands, offering companionship and assistance when needed. Even in her much later years when she was in a skilled nursing facility, she thought it was her duty to make sure the “old” people were cared for and attended to properly. She was a caretaker until the end. As if there were any spare moments, she did find time for bowling, making ceramics, being actively involved with her grandchildren, and traveling to visit extended relatives and to new ports of call with her husband and friends. She found much joy and pleasure in these activities. She was forever curious, inquisitive, and always up for a new and fun adventure, often bringing her daughters or friends along with her. Dolores was a devout Catholic, going to daily Mass once she fully retired.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, husband, son Scott Hopfinger, daughter-in-law Linda Hopfinger, infant son Joseph, infant daughter Mary Theresa, infant daughter Geraldine, infant daughter Patricia, brother Henry Hernandez, and brother-in-law Leo Hopfinger. She is survived by her children Susan (Jay) Fulmer of Lee’s Summit, MO, Stephen Hopfinger of Overland Park, KS, Sheila (Theron) Barr of Leawood, KS, and Sharon (Ronan) Molloy of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren Jessica Higgins, Jayson (Jessie) Fulmer, Madison Hopfinger (fiancé, Jacob Riedel), Paige Hopfinger, Abigail Hopfinger, Lillie Barr, Henry Barr, Enrica Barr, and Hugh Molloy; great-grandchildren Maxwell Higgins, Myles Higgins, Ella Fulmer, Lucy Fulmer, and Ruby Fulmer. She is also survived by her sisters Virginia Woodside and Kathleen Meek.

Special thanks goes to the caring, wonderful staff at Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center where Dolores lived out her final years. Memorial contributions may be made to this worthy organization. They truly do the Lord’s work each and every day!