Obituary of Freddie Lorne Hopkins

It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of our Dad, Freddie Lorne Hopkins, age 88, of Sackville, New Brunswick, on Monday, March 16, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Beloved husband of Dorette (Lirette) of 67 years; loving father of Peggy (Michael Wheaton), Todd (Bonnie) and Beth (Trevor Campbell); adoring grandfather of Shea, Kate (Gage Walton), and Taylor (Elliot MacDonald), and great-grandfather of Millicent and Jolene. Together Fred and Dorette built a beautiful life rooted in family, love, and friendship. Family was Dad’s greatest treasure and raising his children his proudest accomplishment.

Fred was born on July 26, 1937, in Springhill, Nova Scotia, and was the eldest of seven to the late Charles Theodore and Helen Mae (Porter) Hopkins. Fred is survived by brother, Danny (Diana) Hopkins; sister, Kathy Hopkins; brother-in-law, Eloi Lirette; sister-in-law, Justine Amero as well as by several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends. Fred is predeceased by his parents and four siblings, Helen (Bobbie) Tower, Carol (Earl) O’Blenis, Patricia (Frank) LeBlanc and Nancy Hopkins.

Fred lived life fiercely. The breadth of the life he lived extended to all who were so fortunate to have met him with extended hands. From his undying love of our Mom, to playing hockey on the pond with his Dad, a lifelong love of baseball and “The Yankees”, to coaching his children, his art of collecting, his sheer “inner genius”, his mesmerizing ability of storytelling, his infatuation of everything Christmas, and the skill to accomplish anything he set his mind to. Fred was a character and to those he so cherished, he was Freddie.

Freddie’s children tasked their uncle, Danny, Dad’s favorite brother, with penning who Freddie was.

Danny’s remembrance to his brother is this…

“Freddie”

Character is forged in the flames of hardship and Fred’s early life of challenges produced within his spirit, an indomitable rock foundation upon which he steadied himself for life as a son, husband, father, and elder brother to the Hopkins clan. As a son, devoted; as a husband, he loved passionately; as a father, his love was protective and instructive; as a brother, regardless of the challenge: accept it, understand it, overcome it…that settles it. Fred wore each of these hats with his own indisputable mastery.

Fred learned early to sculpt stumbling blocks into steppingstones, elevating both his view and understanding of his circumstances and of a calculated response. These valuable tools, hewn from experience, have been instilled in his children and their accomplishments lend to the credibility of their father’s instruction. The scope of his undaunted spirit under challenge, always met those instances with a playful twinkle in his blue eyes.

Fred was never one to shrink from debate. His arguments were skillfully crafted with logic and amusement; treated as a puzzle; with Fred inserting the last piece which added the sense to the entire picture. In his last years, entertaining significant health challenges; as the unelected Mayor of the Drew Nursing Home, he could be found in the halls on his way to visit his high school sweetheart and wife, Dorette, playfully complaining about this or that to anyone who didn’t even want to listen, while grinning all the way.

As a prankster, Fred had a PhD. His jokes and stories always fortified with a lesson….once the laughing ceased. The legacy of this courageous pillar of our Hopkins family is not founded so much upon his words, but more in the example he left with us.

If you must fight to overcome, then fight, with a twinkle in your eye.

This was our Fred, and my brother, Freddie.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Erin Campbell and staff of Campbell’s Funeral Home at 89 Bridge Street, Sackville New Brunswick (506) 364-8188. In keeping with Fred’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no public visitation. A private family service and celebration of life will take place at a later date.

Fred’s family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Drew Nursing Home, who grew to love him as we did and made an effort to know the man he was. Also, special thanks to Father Craig O’Brien, Father Damien Nwachukwu and Father Carlos Jacinto for your prayers and blessings.

If so desired, donations in memory of Fred may be made to Parkinson Canada, Heart and Stroke New Brunswick Foundation or to the charity of one’s choice.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be forwarded to the family through our website www.campbellsfuneralhome.com or by visiting the funeral home Facebook page.