Stephanie Ann “Stevie” Hoppen, educator with the Bogalusa City School system for 43 years, passed into eternal life on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, following a lengthy illness.

Born Dec. 19, 1949, to Alvin and Dorothy Jean Spiers, Stevie was 67 years old. She was educated in Bogalusa and received a B. Ed. and M. Ed. from Southeastern Louisiana University and post graduate work from several universities. She began teaching in January 1971, at Northside Elementary School. On June 5, 1971, she married Harry E. Hoppen. She literally married “the boy next door,” who was her loving and loyal life partner for 46 years. Stevie was a beloved wife, mother and friend. She and Harry were the proud parents of two children, Heidi Alaina Hoppen Dillon and Bryan Edward Hoppen.

Stevie touched so many lives through her work as classroom teacher, guidance counselor, Supervisor of Welfare and Attendance and Interim Superintendent of the Bogalusa City School System. Her wit, her wisdom, her compassion and her no nonsense approach to life made her beloved by family, friends, colleagues and church family.

She was a member of Superior Avenue Baptist Church, a past member of Beta Sigma Phi, and a member of three pokeno groups.

Stevie was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Jean Spiers; and a sister, Sherry Spiers Dantin. She is survived and sadly missed by her husband, Harry E. Hoppen and her children Heidi (Rod) Dillon and Bryan (Tori) Hoppen, and her grandchildren, Aniston Elizabeth Dillon, John Garrett Dillon, Harrison Parker Hoppen, and William Edward Hoppen. She is also survived by three sisters, Stacey Spiers Talley, Freddie Spiers Tourné (Mike), and Nikki Spiers Grimes; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jackie and Jimmy Casanova. Her nieces and nephews include Shane Hall, Jeff Tourné, Jordy Tourné, Todd Casanova, Derek Dantin, Jennifer Casanova Jenkins, Karen Casanova Guzzardo, Amanda Dantin Marshall, Cyndi Rising, and Brandi VonderBruegge, who provided loving and compassionate medical care throughout Stevie’s illness.

Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements. Visitation was from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15. Services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 16, at the funeral home. Pallbearers included Patton Bush, Joe Culpepper, Darrin Guzzardo, Shad Jenkins, Jordy Tourné and Michael Joe VonderBruegge. Interment followed at Ponemah Cemetery.