Elizabeth Lydia (Hopes) Waters

Orwell - Elizabeth Lydia Hopes Waters, age 91, life long resident of Orwell, Ohio, passed away on April 6th. She was born September 8, 1928 in Austinburg. Her parents were Alex and Helen (Himrod) Hopes. She grew up on an active dairy farm north of the village of Orwell. The eldest of five children, born just before the depression began, Liz learned early the value of hard work. She graduated from Orwell High School in 1946 and remained active in the school’s alumni association her whole life. After school, she worked for several years at the Orwell Telephone Company as an operator. She was married in 1947 to Allen Waters after he returned from his service in the Army Corps of Engineers in WWII. He was the love of her life. Al soon started a construction business and Liz helped him manage his work. Their rambunctious son Dennis Allen was born in 1951. Their home was a gathering place for their extended family and friends. Everyone remembers the backyard pool parties, tables laden with food set up in the garage, basketball in the driveway, and wild ping pong games in the basement. While Al died far too young, in 1991, their life together was full. He was a wonderful husband and father. Al and Liz were amazing parents and doting grandparents. They once drove an antique piano from Ohio to New Hampshire for their granddaughter Erin in the back of a pickup truck. The Ohio to New Hampshire trip was one they made countless times. When Liz drove, the State Troopers were always alert and often gave “lead foot Lizzy” (a moniker her nieces and nephews lovingly bestowed upon her) a ticket. Al was not amused. These drives gave Liz and Al a chance to sing together in the car, whether the old standards they loved from their youth, one of their favorite hymns, or, especially, “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Although, as members of Orwell Presbyterian will know, Liz was often off key, her singing was done with gusto. She and Al would take Casey (their grandson) and Erin on these car rides as well, assembling boxes of fun things to do on the way and teaching them the words to their favorite songs. Liz and Al shared a love of antiquing too. Al collected antique tools and they both loved Candlewick crystal and amassed quite a collection. They both would go to various clubs and kept up a correspondence with fellow collectors. They fostered a love of collecting in Dennis which translated to his current occupation and passion: antique photography. It is his children’s as well. Liz loved going antiquing with Denny, Carol (his wife), Erin, and Casey. Liz also loved to play cards and was a member of a card club that met once a week with some of her dear friends. She taught her granddaughter Erin and daughter-in-law Carol and to play “Push” and they all spent many happy hours trying to outwit each other. Though Casey would sometimes play, he was never as good a card shark as his grandmother. Casey enjoyed driving around Orwell with his grandmother and learning about the history of the area and the family farm. In recent years, she would direct him from the passenger seat as they went from antique shop to antique shop, chatting about life and cracking jokes along the way. Liz was a charter member of the American Legion Post 719 Auxiliary. Orwell will miss Elizabeth Hopes Waters, one of its Citizens of the Year. Liz is survived by her son Dennis Allen Waters and daughter-law Carol Waters of Exeter, NH, granddaughter Erin Elizabeth Waters of Lancaster, PA, grandson Casey Allen Waters of Exeter, NH, sister Virginia (Ginny) Simonson of Monroe, OH, brother Wilfred (Bill) and sister-in-law Vicki Hopes of Orwell, OH, and sister Dorothy (Dort) Hare of Cortland, OH. Her brother Richard (Dick) Hopes of Orwell, OH preceded her in death. She is also survived by so much loving family and many, many dear nieces and nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, great grand-nieces, and great grand-nephews all of whose birthdays she never forgot, even in these last days. She took her nieces and nephews in if they needed a place to stay five at a time or one at time, it didn’t matter because to Liz, family was the most important thing in life and her family will miss her very much.

In keeping with the order of the governor of Ohio we will be holding a private graveside service officiated by Pastor Erin Valenti at Orwell North Cemetery. We would like to encourage friends to utilize the condolence page at painefuneralhome.com.  In lieu of any flowers, donations may be made to the Orwell Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 56, Orwell, OH 44076. Liz was a huge fundraiser for the department these last years and good friends with the people in the department. She would have wanted it that way. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date at the Orwell Presbyterian Church. Arrangements are being handled by Paine Funeral Home, Inc. Orwell, OH

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