Obituary of Gerard Bruce Holmes Hopkins
HOPKINS, Gerard (Gerry) Bruce Holmes
August 27, 1927 - September 23, 2019
After a full and inspiring life, Gerry Hopkins died peacefully at home in Kingston, Ontario, on September 23, 2019. He was 92 years old.
Gerry was born in Kingston on August 27, 1927, the son of Dr. Bruce Holmes Hopkins and Marjorie Adelaide Pense. A proud Queen's University graduate, B.Comm. '51, he went on to work for DuPont of Canada for 34 rewarding years. Gerry married E. Anne Cooke in 1952, raising their four children as Gerry's career took them to Kingston, Brockville, Shawinigan, and Montreal.
In 1985 Gerry married Jocelyn Rehder (née Bowden), creating a large extended family, of which they were both proud. They settled in Kingston, where Gerry thrived and deep friendships were forged as the owner of a small home renovation business.
Gerry was always a passionate volunteer and advocate, following his own personal 'code'; one of being ethical and hard-working, and of putting others before himself. From local parent association president, to being chairman of the Lakeshore School Board in Québec, Gerry promoted equity in education through the '60s and '70s. In every community he lived in, Gerry gave back, including as a Boy Scout leader, director of a community swimming pool, organizer for a neighbourhood park association, and mentor for young entrepreneurs. Most recently, Gerry was a healthcare advocate as a member of the Providence Care Board of Directors in Kingston for nine years, contributing to the ground breaking of the new Providence Care Hospital.
Gerry is survived by his four children and their spouses: Bruce and his wife Carole Russell, Pamela and her husband Alex Goncharenko, Diana and her husband John Rosseel, and Philip and his wife Mary (née Ecclestone). He will be missed by his five Rehder step-children: Christine and her husband Lee Horne, Eric and his wife Maxine, Jonathan, Mark, and Michael and his wife Jane Biggs. He leaves behind seven grandchildren: Bill, Thom, Justin, Des, Nickolas, Madi and Natasha; and two great-grandchildren, in addition to six step-grandchildren: Andrea, Tony, Shawn, Jamie, Mark, Marianne, Rebecca; with two step-great grandchildren and two step-great-great grandchildren.
There will be no memorial service. If desired, donations may be made to Dying with Dignity Canada (https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/), 55 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 802, Toronto, ON, M4P 1G8; 1-800-495-6156.
