Obituary of Laura M. Lemos
Laura M. Lemos, 81, passed away suddenly at home on Thursday, Aug 10, 2023 just two weeks after losing her beloved husband of 60 years, Frank.
Laura was born in Cleveland, Ohio to the late John Hopka and Jennie Liptak , but shortly after, settled in Clifton, NJ with her family. She graduated from Clifton High School and then earned a degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from Fairleigh Dickenson University. She was employed by Englehard Chemicals & Minerals Corp (later BASF) working in the Catalyst Testing Lab, retiring after over 30 years of service.
After she met & married the love of her life, Francis D. Lemos, she lived briefly in Westfield, then Plainfield, before finally settling in South Plainfield where she lived for the last 45 years. She was a familiar face while her kids were in school, participating in the PTO, Sacred Heart school Bingo, working in the school at lunchtime, attending all concerts, plays, and all of their activities. Upon becoming a Grandmother, she easily transitioned into being a cheerleader at all of their activities too. She loved camping, especially exploring historical sites & museums. The Lemos family was often getting “shhh’d” at the campground due to her love of loud & heated card games like Pit or Mille Bornes. But she also enjoyed quiet time for puzzles, her computer, word finds, Sudoku and reading.
After her children married, Laura had more time for cruises & trips, traveling with her husband, brother, family, grandkids and the South Plainfield seniors. Laura was a detailed historian, journaling most of her life’s trips including pictures so she could always share and reminisce her memories with her family & friends. Her favorite trip was a cruise to Alaska, which she boasted was the trip of a lifetime & encouraged everyone to go at least once. She also loved Hawaii, and came home from that trip with a new found love for a good Mai Tai and a recipe for Aloha Chicken.
Later in life Laura, with her husband Frank by her side, spent a significant time participating in the South Plainfield Republican club, The Friends Of The Library, the Reading Club and with their South Plainfield Seniors “family” and friends who kept them both so active and involved. The last few years, you would never see one without the other, even in the arts & crafts room!
Predeceased by her parents, John and Jennie (Liptak) Hopka, siblings, John Hopka and James Hopka and 2 weeks ago, her “Honey” Francis D. Lemos, whom she now is reunited forever in Heaven with. Surviving are her two children, Sharon Scalera and husband Thomas of South Plainfield, and Christopher Lemos and wife Cheryl of NH, as well as 3 cherished grandchildren, Dominick, Nicholas and Jemma.
“Love is a light that never dims.”
