Eleanor Rogers "Ellie" Luopa

Eleanor Rogers Luopa, known affectionately as Ellie, passed away peacefully on August 20, 2024, at the young age of 89. She was surrounded by the love of her children and grandchildren at Boston Medical Center.

Ellie was born on June 28, 1935, in Newburyport, MA, the only child of Frank N. Jones and Ilmi S. Jones. She grew up in Cambridge, MA and later Belmont, MA where she attended Shady Hill School and Belmont High School. Summers were spent in New Hampshire at her grandparents’ farm in Fitzwilliam where she developed fond memories with her many cousins.

Ellie met her first husband, James M. Rogers at a Belmont Hill High School dance. The two dated throughout college and graduated together from Colby College in Waterville, ME in 1957. They married in August of that same year and eventually settled in Salem, NH where they raised their four children.  During this time, Ellie worked as the church secretary for West Church in Haverhill, MA, where she was instrumental with the founding group of the Hilltop Nursery School.  Her deep love of the church and the friendships she made there lasted throughout her entire life.

In 1992, Ellie and Jim followed their dream of retiring to Fitzwilliam, NH. For the next few decades, Ellie served her community as a volunteer member and President of the Fitzwilliam Garden Club which led to her earning a lifetime membership to the National Association of Garden Clubs.  She was also a dedicated and active member of the Fitzwilliam Newsletter.

An avid gardener, she was often consulted by family and friends for gardening advice. She fulfilled that passion when she opened her own small business, Lilies of the Field, out of her home.  She would greet you with a smile, a wave of a gloved hand and trowel in the other. She especially appreciated and loved admiring the sunsets at Laurel Lake in Fitzwilliam from the deck of her family cottage.

In 1998, Ellie’s husband, Jim, passed away.  Ellie worked through this heartbreak exploring new passions and surrounding herself with her children and grandchildren while checking off bucket list items such as traveling to Finland with her beloved cousins. In 2009, Ellie was blessed to find love once again when she met Reginald “Reggie” Luopa. They married in 2010 and enjoyed 10 years of happiness and laughter together. Reggie’s six children, their spouses, and extended family all welcomed her into their family, and continue to play a loving role in Ellie’s life after Reggie’s passing in 2020.

Ellie spent her final years in the loving community of Scott Farrar in Peterborough, NH. It was here where she continued her love of gardening and bridge, while rediscovering the joy of watercolor painting.  A lifelong Red Sox fan, she never missed watching a game and she happily reported all Red Sox news to anyone who would listen. Most importantly, her time at Scott Farrar provided Ellie with many meaningful friendships and loving relationships with people she considered extended family. She was living her best life where she was happy and healthy in a place she considered home.

Ellie’s mantra was, “Life is short, eat dessert first” …just ask her grandchildren about her mint brownies!

Ellie is survived by her loving children, David J. Rogers and his wife Mary of Hillsborough, NH; Ann Braunagel and her husband Tom, of Bethel, CT; Jeff Rogers and his wife Jan of Estes Park, CO; and Chris Rogers and his wife Andrea of Highlands Ranch, CO. She was a loving grandmother to her seven grandchildren: Ryan, Heather, Kelsie, Riley, Courtney, Tyler, and Abigail; and a proud great-grandmother to: Andrew, Matthew, Nathan, Gracie, James and her namesake, Elliott, aka “Ellie”.

A luncheon reception to celebrate Ellie’s life will be held on September 27th, 2024, at the Woodbound Inn in Rindge, NH at 11:30 AM. Burial will be private. The Jellison Funeral Home of Peterborough, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. To share a memory, or leave the family a message of condolence, please visit Eleanor’s tribute page at www.jellisonfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellie’s memory may be made to the Jennie Scott Legacy Fund via https://scott-farrar.com/about-us/endowment/ or to the Hilltop School at West Church via https://www.hilltophaverhill.com/support/ .