Eva (Louise) Hooper Lancaster

Fletcher, VT - Eva Louise (Hooper) Lancaster, age 91 – This is the story of a lovely lady.  A lady who was known for her incredible smile and her sweet demeanor.  The most kind-hearted person that you would ever meet.  This is mom’s “dash”.

Eva was born in Fletcher, Vermont on July 1, 1931, on the hottest day of the year, and passed away on January 31, 2023 as she was being lovingly held by her daughter, Laura, her son-in-law, Mark and grandson, “Alex”ander Weber. 

Eva was the first child of Jesse and Mona (Spaulding) Hooper.  Her brother, Roy Hooper was born in 1933 and lived in Alaska upon his death on July 7, 2022. 

Eva began her education in the one room schoolhouse around the corner from her home in Fletcher Center, and graduated from Bellows Free Academy, Fairfax in 1948.   After graduation from high school, The American Red Cross supported her in going to Camp Tevya in Brookline, NH where she was learned how to teach swimming and lifesaving skills to children.  She then taught swimming at a 4-H Camp on Lake Champlain, and then at Metcalf Pond in Fletcher.  She also very much enjoyed going into Stones Brook at the dam near her homestead, but only when the snow was off the mountain.

Eva graduated from Johnson State Teacher's College in 1953.  She began teaching 1st grade in Charlotte, VT and did so for 2 years.  She then met her husband, Hugh Thomas (“Tom”) Lancaster through her brother when Roy and Tom were in the service together and Eva sent a care package to her brother with her homemade cookies that he shared with Tom.  Tom said, “I want to meet the girl that made these cookies”.  The rest as they say is history. 

She married Tom Lancaster on August 19, 1955, in Burnt Hills, New York.  Since Tom was in the service, they initially lived together in military housing in New Jersey.   When there, they had their first-born son, Timothy.  Sadly, Tim predeceased his mother in 1997.  Eva and Tom returned to Fletcher, Vermont and rented a home on the North Road.  During that time, Eva returned to teaching in the 1 room schoolhouse, then located across the road from where they resided, but needed to stop teaching at that school as their second son, Ted, was born. (Ted has been Eva’s sole physical caregiver for the past several years and we are grateful for his dedication to helping our mom).

Eva and Tom then purchased a farm together farther up on North Road in Fletcher.  Eva helped with the farm work, gardened and gave birth to 3 more children:   Shelley, then Thomas (who also predeceased her in 1993), and Laura.

Eva was used to keeping busy.  With 5 children and the farm, she actually enjoyed haying and being in the sugar house.  During these years she also was the Den Mother to her sons Cub Scout group.  Eva said, in 1967, she was “teased” to come teach again, this time at Fletcher Elementary School in what came to be known as the Title I program.  Also during this time, Eva played the organ at the Binghamville United Methodist Church, helped organize and worked at many church suppers and was part of the Binghamville Cemetery Association.  She also played horn in the Fletcher, Fairfax, Westford Band.  In earlier years, on the rare occasion when most of the family traveled, Eva and Tom enjoyed camping and visiting Tom’s family. 

During all these busy years, Eva ended up teaching for an additional 26 more years until she retired in June, 1993. 

Since 1993, Eva lived at her original family homestead in Fletcher Center where she was born, but she also considered herself a “snowbird” and after her retirement, spent time wintering in DeLand, Florida.           

Several years ago, Eva saw a Knit for Kids ad in Guidepost magazine regarding the mission to send needy children warm clothing.  Eva proudly and generously knit over 100 sweaters for the program and most recently was knitting several children's caps.  When she was not knitting, Eva enjoyed, when able, “digging in the dirt” in her multiple flower beds in both VT and FL with the help of Emerson Blaisdell, Eva’s first cousin who lived with the family for 53 years.  Emerson was a great help and companion and was very dear to her.  Eva was also known for her ability to spot a lucky 4-leaf clover, so if you asked; she would surely find you one.   Because Eva liked to keep busy, while in Florida she took chair caning classes and repaired many chairs with her talent.  She also loved to watch her shows, enjoyed doing a word search each day and indulged in eating many different flavors of ice cream with real maple syrup while fondly remembering churning her own ice cream and making her own syrup years ago.  And, even though Eva was “never hungry” she wouldn’t pass up a serving of sweet potato fries either at home, or when going to her high school class luncheons with her son-in-law, Mark and/or daughter, Laura.

When Eva got the urge to travel, she had taken Emerson on cruises.  She also traveled to Alaska with him to visit her brother, Roy and his family.  While in Alaska, Eva’s nephew carved a walking stick for her from a diamond willow tree on the family’s homestead.  She cherished it and used it for years and loved to tell the story of how it came to be.

Eva was also an avid game player and her favorite game was Kings in the Corner.  She enjoyed playing that while listening to 50’s music with her daughter, Laura.  She also enjoyed that and many other games with, sister-in-law, Jane, and friends, namely Lisa Glover and Maxine Anderson who was also present at her passing. 

Over the past year plus, Eva had been missing the very early morning daily calls from neighbor, Bob Sweet.  When he would call, that would be her signal that in a while it would be time to get up and not “sleep her life away”.

Along with Eva’s 5 children, she also had 5 grandchildren:  “Alex”ander Weber, who was very near and dear to her, and grew up spending lots of time at Gramma’s (and Grampa’s).  And he also made sure to spend a good amount of time with her in her last days. And, Emma Broderick, Eva’s granddaughter, who has kept in touch with her grandmother over the years, along with Eva’s great-granddaughter, Emma’s daughter, Ophelia Nettles. 

Her other grandchildren/extended family are Damon (& Cecelia) Broderick, Trent Broderick (& wife, Alex Basilio), and Todd (& Elizabeth) Broderick. She also had 7 other great-grandchildren:  Calvin & Casey; Tucker & Anna; and Mia, Cooper & Maci Broderick.  

Eva was predeceased by her husband, Tom on March 3, 2015, and, by her beloved cousin, Emerson on December 19, 2020.           

Eva is survived by her devoted son, Ted, her loving daughter, Laura Weber and family, and her daughter, Shelley Broderick and her family.  She also leaves, her sister-in-law, Jane Patch (and her family) who made a beautiful yellow (mom’s favorite color) quilt that lay on her bed, and a special family friend, Leslie who helped take great care of mom over the past several months.  In addition she leaves several nieces, nephews, cousins and their families and many caring and thoughtful friends and neighbors. 

Eva wished to not have a funeral service.  Interment and a celebration of her life will be at a later date, at the discretion of the family, and by invitation only.  Most likely in the spring when the jonquils (her favorite) and daffodils are in bloom.

If you would like to contribute in Eva’s memory, please do so with the charity of your choice. 

You had a great dash, mom.  We have been blessed and honored to have you as our mother, thank you.  Bye, See You, Love You.