December 25, 1959 - September 22, 2022
Madeleine Noella Hopkins quietly passed away on Thursday night, September 22, 2022 in Loveland, Colorado. Maddy was born on December 25, 1959 at Memorial Hospital in Boulder, Colorado. She was a wonderful Christmas gift to her parents, Richard and Eleanor Hopkins and her brothers, Richard Jr. and Jay. As a Christmas baby, Maddy’s birthday celebration was sometimes overshadowed by the Christmas festivities; and she always insisted the family wait until 4.30 p.m. before celebrating her birthday.
She loved growing up in Boulder when it was still a small town - when kids could freely play with others in the neighborhood, bike to North Boulder Park, and hike in the foothills. Maddy most loved horseback riding and would often go the Joder Ranch to ride and take lessons. She also loved going to Mrs. Perkheiser’s land on the north end of 4th Street to see the goats, and to go swimming at Waugh’s Pond. When Maddy was 12, her family moved to New Zealand for a year where she was able to live her dream of owning a horse.
Maddy was a beautiful, intelligent, sweet soul. She was the epitome of a beautiful Bohemian woman and remained a free-spirit her entire life. She also loved adventure. One of her fondest memories was sailing in the Sea of Cortez with her father on his sailboat Koko.
Maddy received her fine arts degree from Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs in 1982. She remained there for a few years with the love of her life, Bruce Roberts. They camped, fished and explored deep mountain caves. She worked as a leatherworker in a local Glenwood shop.
Returning to Boulder, Maddy furthered her education in art, graduating from the Colorado Institute of Art with honors in 1993. She established her own successful graphics business and created amazing designs and beautiful websites for many clients. Perhaps the best time of her life, after graduating, Maddy lived with her mother. Ellie was Maddy’s best friend and soul mate. They loved camping, cooking, traveling, thrifting and music, to name just a few of the many interests they shared. Maddy was grief stricken when Ellie died in 2004. But she bravely overcame that tragedy when she bought her own home in Loveland. In Loveland, the downtown community embraced her like family.
Maddy saw the beauty and good in everything. Nature was Maddy’s greatest inspiration. Her artistic gifts are expressed in numerous works in which she utilized diverse media and styles. Her friends and family proudly display her art in their homes.
Maddy was preceded in death by her father, Richard, Sr. and her mother Ellie. She is survived by brothers Richard Jr. of Niwot, Colorado, and Jay who lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. She will be greatly missed by her brothers and her many friends.
Rather than a formal service, Maddy preferred that her friends and family attend a celebration of life. Maddy’s Celebration of Life will be held on November 12, 2022 starting at 3:00 p.m. at the home of her dearest friend, Kim Mansfield, 1350 S. County Road 29, Loveland, Colorado 80537.
Maddy and Ellie wanted their ashes scattered, along with Maddy’s cats – Jiggy and Izzy - over Lake McConaughy.
