Honora A. Popper, 93, of Edison, Marlton, and Pennington, NJ, passed away at Brandywine Senior Living in Pennington on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025.
Born in Williamsport PA to George and Anastasia Hamm (nee McNamee), Nora or Nana, as she was lovingly called by her grandchildren, was the third child of George and Anastasia.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband Gabe, with whom she shared an amazing 62 years of marriage. She was also predeceased by her cherished son Michael (Jennifer) Popper in 2016.
She is survived by her children: Judith Popper Williamson (Chris Phelan), Anne Popper, Nicholas Popper, and Mary (Andy) Downie. Nora adored her grandchildren, Jessica (Matt) Williamson, Jason (Erick) Williamson, Jude Popper, Kelsey (Josh) Del Toro, and Kyle Downie, and her two great-grandchildren Juniper and Rowan Lehtonen.
She is also survived by her beloved sister Mary Formica, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Nora graduated from Georgetown University in 1952 with her BS in Nursing and received her Masters in Education in 1978. She spent over thirty years as an instructor at the Charles E. Gregory School of Nursing in Perth Amboy and Our Lady of Lourdes in Camden.
Nora lived a long and blessed life – having educated thousands of nurses in her career, she was known for remembering their names and minor details of their lives, careers, and children. She was always at her best when others were at their worst – caring for the sick and the grieving with tenderness and love. She was wickedly funny and was passionate about travel, opera, dachshunds, and the Georgetown Hoyas basketball team.
The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Brandywine Senior Living at Pennington, and in particular her best friends in the memory care unit, for their love and care for Nora. These truly exceptional people brought joy and comfort to Nora’s most difficult times.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on November 20, 2025 at 10:15 at St James Chapel, 6 Eglantine Ave, Pennington NJ.
Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your favorite charity.
I am so sorry to hear this! Aunt Nora (my Dad called her Harry, so all us kids did as well) was my godmother, and she was a wonderful example to us girls. She was the first career woman I ever knew (along with Aunt Mary, but since she was my godmother, she was the one I most identified with) and spending time with her every year on vacation let me grow up imagining that for myself. I am grateful to that for her. I also remember her humor, her amazing laugh, and her wide streak of individuality, all things that I always loved. I send my condolences to the family, who I know will miss her greatly. Losing her is a great loss, but also, what an amazing life. I love you, Aunt Harry, be well and happy in heaven!
Thanks for your warm thoughts Julie!
We were blessed to have known Nora these past 40 years. She was a fellow nurse, co-instructor, mentor, and beloved friend with whom we shared our life stories. She worked diligently to enlighten and brighten our world. Your work is done now, Nora, so rest in peace with your heavenly family and with our Lord.
There will never be another one like Aunt Harry! I always admired ted her sly intelligence and keen sense of humor. I loved the way she modeled equality for men and women in her career life and in the way she ran her family. I used to enjoy lunch with her and Uncle Gabe when they would come to Manhattan, where I lived, to see the opera. I will miss this great lady!
She was one of my nursing school teachers 30 years ago She was compassionate, caring, patient and kind with us, her students as well as our patients Mrs Popper made sure we were well prepared to care for our patients and always encouraged a “can do” attitude She was a very effective educator and a wonderful influence personally and professionally May her memory be a blessing
Mrs Popper was a wonderful nursing instructor.
May she rest in peace 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Mrs Popper was my instructor at CEG. An AMAZNG instructor with a sharp wit and a twinkle in her but a no joke attitude , she truly was and is the inspiration behind my dedication to the profession.. She told me ..” you are a good one .. you’ll go far” .. and I thought of that many many times throughout my career ..thank you Mrs Popper for being the best ❤️❤️
She was the best. I never had her as an instructor but worked beside her in ICU with her students. We had a very rewarding time together doing what we both loved teaching the new nurses and taking excellent care of our patients. I still think about our times together. Judy, you babysat for my daughter, Beth in 1977-78. Our first babysitter. Iam truly sorry for your loss.
I am sad to be just reading this now. Mrs. Popper was one of my dearest nursing instructors at Our Lady of Lourdes Nursing School back in 1985. We developed a friendship that extended for many many years as we exchanged Christmas cards and she kept me up to date with her life events, all the way up to 2017, when we finally lost touch after she lost her son. She holds a special place in my heart and my sincerest belated condolences to her family.