Sondra J. Summers-Hopkins

Sondra was born on April 16, 1949 as the only child to Wanda and Joe Summers in Macon, Missouri. After her family moved to Kansas City, she graduated from Ruskin High School in 1967. She grew up in a very loving family where her father dotted over her, and her mother held her to high standards. She went on to study business and marketing, eventually she earned her Graduate degree in 1986 from Avila University. Education remained one of her core values- she helped & supported many other people attain their educational goals.

Throughout her early life she worked with her father at his photography studio in Kansas City, MO. She gained a love for photography that stayed with her throughout her life. The volumes of family photos stand as testament to this love. Beyond her father’s photography studio, Sondra became an x-ray technician and then a radiation therapy technician from 1976 – 1984. She then started a career in medical sales which she continued until 1997. Afterwards, she was a stay-at-home mother who cared for her two sons. She eventually opened a business with her husband in 2013 providing independent medical exams for patients across the Kansas City metro area. She dedicated herself to this role, which she thought really helped people in need. She ran this business with her husband until the last 2 weeks of her life. Even during the darkest moments of her illness, she would still wake up and say, “I need to go to work.”

In 1983 she met her husband, Dr. William Hopkins. They married in 1986 and gave life to two children, Graham & Spencer Hopkins. Sondra dedicated her life to raising her two children the best way she knew how. She put immense amounts of love and time into her family and children. Her family was the most important thing in her life. One of the most impactful aspects of Sondra’s life during this time was travel. She travelled all over the world on countless adventures with her family. She instilled a sense of adventure and travel that stays with her children to this day.

Sondra was also a fighter. She fought harder against her pancreatic cancer than any person should have to do. Her battle reflected the personal toughness she developed over her life. She was also known for her honesty and straightforward remarks. She was a person that people always knew where they stood. Her authenticity and courage to speak her mind were traits admired by many. She was not large in stature but stood large in spirit.

We know she is finally at peace and watching down upon all those she loved and cared for. She will be dearly missed by many.

A Memorial Visitation for Sondra will be held Saturday, August 26, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131, followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:00 AM.