She was born in Plains on March 21, 1922 to the late Alexander and Victoria Hopiak. At a young age, her family moved to Parsons and eventually settled in the house that would be her home for the next 70 plus years. The oldest of five children, she was predeceased by a young sister Mary, brothers Walter and Alex, and a sister Julia.

Lydia attended S & S Elementary School and the former James M. Coughlin High School, leaving school after 11th grade. She entered the local workforce to help support her family during the Depression, doing domestic  work, transitioning to an examiner in the local dress factories, and ultimately retiring in 1987 from  cafeteria work at Coughlin and GAR High Schools as well as Heights-Murray Elementary School.

On November 23 (Thanksgiving Day 1950), she married her husband Basil and they shared 48 years together until his death on November 21, 1999.

She was a charter member of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, where her faith meant everything to her as well as working on many of the fund raising projects in support of the church. Lydia loved the simple things of life—-frying her famous breaded pork chops, baking banana bread and chocolate zucchini brownies to share with others, going for walks with her friend Tootsie, enjoying summer nights on the porch talking with neighbors, or just talking with them over the fence. She was able to live independently until she turned 93 at which time she moved to Virginia. Living in Virginia enabled her to be involved in her grandson Gregory's  life. She attended St Nicholas Orthodox Church where she was blessed to be part of another church family.

In addition to the Brogan family, survivors include her godson Joseph Koveleski, Mechanicsburg; Cousins  Barbara Nicolio, Mayfield, and  Mary Ann Kudey, Plains, several nieces and nephews, especially Betsy, David, and Mark, and the Levandowski clan, former neighbors that became family.

A service and viewing were held at St Nicholas Church, in Virginia on Tuesday.  There will be a viewing at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 401 East Main Street, Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday evening from 4-7 pm with a parastas at 6:30pm. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the 10am Funeral Service on Thursday morning in Holy Trinity. Interment will follow at Fern Knoll Burial Park, Dallas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Wilkes-Barre, or St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Greenwood, Virginia.