Hope E. Mehaffey Obituary
1934-2022
West Yarmouth
Hope E. Mehaffey, resident of West Yarmouth for over 40 years, passed away at the Mayflower Nursing Home on July 17, 2022, after a long illness. Hope was 87 years old.
Hope had been the organist and choir director for the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brockton, MA for over 50 years, and had dedicated her life to the music she created on her beloved church organ, and with the generations of her choir members she taught and encouraged.
Hope was born in Cambridge, MA in 1934, and had moved with her parents and brother Bruce to South Yarmouth in 1950. Hope received her Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University where she studied performance under Dr. Francis Snow, and earned her Masters degree in Sacred Music from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, studying under Dr. Hugh Porter.
Hope was a member of the American Guild of Organists of Cape Cod, and the Association of Lutheran Musicians. Hope had many lifelong friends she made through her association with the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, and was an active teacher of organ at churches around the
Cape and from her home. She also taught music for many years at the Riverview School in East Sandwich. Her homes in Dennis, South Yarmouth, and West Yarmouth were always open as an unofficial sanctuary for the Pastors, choir members and friends made thru the church.
Hope was a devoted lifelong fan of the Boston Red Sox, and had her special spots on West Dennis Beach and Smugglers Beach for her to visit with another group of beach friends for most of her life.
Over the years, Hope adopted a second family of beloved cocker spaniels, to whom she loved and was devoted to. Her last cocker spaniel was Logan, who has now lived in Vermont for 3 years with her brother Frank and her sister-in-law Kaye, and his two other doggie “sisters”.
Hope was preceded in death by her parents, Frank B. Mehaffey and Myrtle E. Mehaffey, and her stepmother, Evelyn E. Mehaffey. Hope was also preceded by her brother Bruce E. Mehaffey and Arlene Moburg, her close friend for over 30 years. Hope is survived by her youngest brother, Frank B. Mehaffey Jr. and his wife, Kaye T. Mehaffey of St. Albans, VT.
Hope is also survived by her wonderful friends, Kristen and Phil Robinson, who have helped her navigate the last years of life at home and in assisted care, with understanding, tolerance, and unconditional love. Hope was also supported by her friends Nancy Clifford and Sandy Willett and was always appreciative of their help and friendship in her last years.
The family and the First Evangelical Lutheran Church will be having a memorial service to honor Hope and her musical ministry, with organist Peter Sykes playing her organ. with music chosen by Hope. The date and time of the memorial service will be publicized at a future date.
Donations in Hope’s memory could be made to Animal Rescue League of Boston (arlboston.org) and to Cocker Spaniel Rescue of New England, Inc. (csrne.org).
