Hilda Mae Poppe

Hilda (Littlefair) Poppe, age 98, was born in Stonington, Connecticut on June 3, 1927. She was the daughter of the late Milton and Lillie (Lampenen) Littlefair and the wife of Norman Poppe to whom she was married for 75 years.

She is survived by her husband Norman, daughter Norma O’Brien of South Kingston, daughter Leslie Boggs and son-in-law Mark Boggs of Warwick, son James Poppe and daughter-in-law- Pamela Poppe of Salem, Massachusetts, and son Bernard Poppe of Cochecton, New York. She was the proud grandmother of 8 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

Prior to her marriage, Hilda was a librarian and her love of books always remained part of her life. As she raised her children, Hilda volunteered in schools and libraries as well as being an active member of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Apponaug. She served there as Altar Guild Directress, Vestry Member, Senior Warden, and Eucharistic Minister. She also worked as the parish secretary at St. Mark’s Church in Hoxie and then returned to St. Barnabas for many years as parish secretary there.

Hilda had always wanted to go to college and once the nest was empty enrolled at the Community College of Rhode Island (Knight Campus) to see if she could “keep up with the kids.“ She did. After getting her Associates degree, she went on to get her Bachelor of Arts from Rhode Island College in 1990, a Master of Library Science from URI in 1993 and a Master in English Literature from R.I.C. in 1999.

Hilda had many hobbies. She loved to sing hymns. She hooked and braided rugs, quilted, refinished furniture, had a passion for crosswords and reading. As time went on, her favorite activity was going with Norman to Iggy’s for lunch and sitting by the bay or getting coffee and a muffin at Dunkin Donuts to enjoy at Goddard Park wth a walk.

She met Norman while roller skating after he came back from the Army and was a student at U.R.I. She knocked him over “by accident”, helped him up and asked him to join her for the Sadie Hawkins couples skating. Their marriage lasted 75 years.

The funeral will be Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church; 99 Pierece St. East Greenwich, R.I.

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