Lynn Hopkins St John
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Lynn Frances Hopkins St. John of Shreveport, Louisiana, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 18, 2022. She spent her last day celebrating St. Patrick's Day, dressed in green, emailing, and speaking with family and friends, enjoying the connections that she treasured.
If you knew Lynn or "Lynnie", you knew that she loved each of her family members deeply. She was a dedicated mother to her three children, grandmother to her nine grandchildren and more recently, her first great grandson. Lynn had a special love for her sister Mary Jo Kot of Shreveport, LA, her brother-in-law James S. Kot who predeceased her, their children, and grandchildren. She adored her cousins, their children, and grandchildren, many of whom live in Milford, CT. Lynn's family was her greatest accomplishment, and she seized every opportunity to share how proud she was of every single one of them.
Lynn was an avid reader and historian, which was complemented by her impeccable memory. She loved her home in Shreveport, Louisiana. The home reflected her, an elegant and beautiful collection of memories, steeped in family and tradition. Lynn enjoyed recalling memories of her family and reliving moments of magic with those she loved and new friends alike.
Lynn was born in Milford, Connecticut, October 3, 1938, to Raymond James Hopkins and Frances Brotherton Hopkins. She had fond memories of living with her mother and great grandparents while her father was away in World War II. She attended Laurelton Hall, in Milford, CT, and graduated from Milford High School in 1956 with national honors. She then attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where she met her husband Gordon Webb St. John of Wallingford, CT. They moved to Detroit, Michigan where they raised their three children, Wendy, Gordy and Susan. Lynn later moved to Shreveport, LA and earned her bachelor's degree from LSU Shreveport. She continued to be a lifelong student of the bible and enhanced her research abilities once she became comfortable with "The Google."
Lynn served her community as a member of the DAR, the Junior League, and the National Cathedral Committee. She was honored to travel to Washington, D.C. to dedicate the National Cathedral. In Shreveport she worked at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, then with Don Heycock, LCSW, and finally as director of hospice volunteers for Willis Knighton. She made lifelong friends that she cherished in each job and volunteer opportunity. She enjoyed an extended family of friends during her time in Shreveport, especially her neighbors and those that assisted her regularly. Her family wishes to thank those who supported and loved her as she loved them.
Her life wasn't without challenges. She found joy in traditions, special occasions, and celebrations of holidays. On birthdays she would call and sing "Happy Birthday" before the recipient could protest. On Thanksgiving her greeting was "gobble gobble!" and everyone knew there was no luckier day than Friday the 13th. Peace for Lynn was a good "float" in the ocean, a gripping mystery novel and knowing her family loved her and each other deeply. Her sense of humor, strong and perceptive opinions and love of tradition will be profoundly missed.
She is survived by her three children: daughter Wendy Lynn St. John and her husband Michael E. Sutton; son Gordon Webb Seymour St. John and his wife Nancy B. St. John; and daughter Susan St. John Amorello and her husband Christopher B. Amorello; nine grandchildren: Ashley St. John, Christopher St. John, Alex St. John; Michael Sutton, John Sutton, Andrew Sutton; Blair Amorello, Jacob Amorello, and Alexander Amorello, and her great grandson Ellis Stone; her former husband and lifelong friend Gordon St. John, her sister Mary Jo Kot, her nieces Jennifer Burlingame, Heather Brown, Kristen Sepulveda and nephew Nicholas Kot, their spouses and children and numerous cherished cousins. She will be laid to rest in Milford, CT, at the Milford Cemetery next to her parents and grandparents. There will be a memorial service in Milford, CT in the early summer. In lieu of flowers, we request a donation in her memory.