Irene Elizabeth (Christiansen) Hopkins

Irene E. (Christiansen) Hopkins

Irene E. (Christiansen) Hopkins of Santa Fe, formerly of Galveston and Hitchcock, passed from this life on April 20, 2017. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Irene has been blessed with many, many friends during her lifetime and cherished them all very much.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Hitchcock on Monday, April 24th at 10:30 a.m. The concelebrants will be Reverend John Kappe and Monsignor Dan Scheel of Houston. Interment will follow at Hayes Grace Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends are cordially invited to join the family at Hayes Funeral Home, 10412 Highway 6 in Santa Fe on April 23rd with a visitation from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. followed by a vigil at 7 p.m.

Irene was born in Galveston, Texas on July 7, 1924 to the late Ole Edwin and Rosie (Turanyik) Christiansen. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Hitchcock and a member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court Star of the Sea No. 228 in Galveston, serving as Regent. She was very active in bowling leagues in Galveston, Texas City and Clear Lake since 1958. Irene graduated from Ball High School in 1942. She went to work at American National Insurance Company on February 18, 1942. She was a secretary in various departments and divisions until 1967 when she was promoted to Executive Secretary to Phil B. Noah, Executive Vice President who was later elected President and Chief Executive Officer. After 48 years of service, she retired on August 1, 1990 in a double retirement party with her late husband John H. “Jack” Hopkins who had 39 years of service (a combined service at ANICO of 87 years).

Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack of 51 years; brothers, John Charles Christiansen and Edwin Victor Christiansen Sr.; sisters, Rosie ( Mrs. George M. Werner) of Galveston and Helen (Mrs. Joseph R. Dell' Olio) of Texas City; sisters-in-law, Bobbie Christiansen (Mrs. Joseph R. Christiansen) of Rison, Arkansas, Francine Colley (Mrs. Robert “Bob” Colley) of Round Rock, Texas, Esta Lee Christiansen (Mrs. Edwin V. Christiansen) of Texas City, Texas.

Survivors include sons, John H. Hopkins, III and wife, Peggy of Galveston, Thomas E. Hopkins, Sr. and wife, JoAnn of Santa Fe; daughter, Dorothy Irene Hopkins of Galveston; brother, Joseph R. Christiansen, Sr. of Bayou Vista; brother-in-law, Robert “Bob” Colley of Round Rock, TX; as  well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Grandchildren, Steven Hopkins and wife, Kelly of Murfreesboro, TN, Karen Hopkins Norris and husband, Jody of League City, Lindsey Hopkins Stone and husband, Justin of Tyler, TX, Tracy Hopkins Sharp and husband, Jeff of Santa Fe, Thomas E. Hopkins, Jr. of Santa Fe. Great-grandchildren, Ariel Sharp Huskey and husband, Nick of Santa Fe, Bruce Sharp of Santa Fe, Braden Hopkins and Jacob Hopkins of Murfreesboro, TN, Grayson Stone and Wyatt Stone of Tyler, TX, and Cody Norris of League City, TX.  Great-great-grandchild, Audrey Rose Huskey of Santa Fe, TX.

Pallbearers are will be Harold Silbersen, John Kobielus, Lalo Ojeda, Jeff Sharp, Thomas Hopkins, Jr., and Bruce Sharp.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorials may be sent to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Hitchcock.

 Service Information