Rose M. (Shaw) Hopton, 94
February 11, 1929 – July 3, 2023
Salem – Rose M. (Shaw) Hopton, 94, of Salem passed away Monday afternoon July 3, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. Dubbed the “world’s oldest teenager” by her children, Rose’s joie de vivre and zest for life was infectious, as was her youthful fashion sense.
Born in Boston, MA, Rose was the daughter of the late Diab Shaw and Emma (Noah) Shaw. She grew up in the South End of Boston, proud of her Lebanese heritage and community; her maternal family roots were in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
She attended the Massachusetts School of Art, her early love of the arts nurtured by Sunday visits via trolley to the Museum of Fine Arts with her father. She was an ardent daily newspaper and magazine reader, and New York Times and Boston Globe crossword puzzle aficionado. New Yorker cartoons were also favorites.
Rose was a font of popular culture knowledge as well, keeping up with trends in music, art and film; she shared daily horoscopes with friends and family, speaking with perfect diction. Her neck, back and hand massages were legendary. She could strike up a conversation with anyone, would sketch their portrait on whatever was handy, usually the back of an envelope, to give to them.
She never met a thrift or secondhand store she didn’t like – for the connections to people, their pasts, their stories, and to hunt for treasures. Her art training came in handy at spotting design finds others might overlook, but she also appreciated the beauty and potential to reuse simple items.
Rose is survived by her children, Elizabeth Vago and her husband Timothy Hamm of Salem, MA and her son George Vago and his wife Lynn-Andrea Vago of Rockport, MA.
She was predeceased by her husband David Hopton, her brother David “Daoud” Shaw, and her former spouse Joseph Vago. Rose’s extended blended family includes Joseph’s children, grand and great-grandchildren, his widow, Elizabeth Vago of Tewksbury, MA, as well as her brother’s widow, Marie Shaw of Austin, TX. George and Liz are grateful for their mother’s early life lessons that family holds no boundaries where there is love.
Relatives and friends are invited to a visitation period at Ste. Anne Parish, 292 Jefferson Avenue, Salem, MA on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. prior to her funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Collation of family and friends will follow.
The family would like to thank Rose’s dedicated caregivers. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to AgeSpan (formerly North Shore Elder Services), PALS Animal Life Savers, the Salem Athenaeum or charitable organization of your choice. To share a memory or offer condolences, please comment below. Comments will not immediately appear.