Hope Weimont Dodd

Hope Weimont Dodd, of Milford, NH, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the age of 77 with family by her side. Born on August 3rd 1943 in Teaneck, NJ as the oldest of seven children to Norma (Tillison) Weimont and Arne Weimont. Hope lived her life fiercely independent with strength and surrounded by love.

A beloved mother, grandmother and sister, Hope is survived by her daughter Marlo (Dodd) Simmons and her husband, Brett, of Hartland, VT, her son Mark Dodd of Milford, NH, her grandson Mitchell Simmons of Watertown, MA and her granddaughter Delaney Simmons of Hartland, VT. She was given unconditional love and compassionate, attentive health care at home by her son, Mark, over the past two and a half years. She is also survived by her sisters Holly Cassidy, Heather Ciardelli, Hildy Johnson and Heidi Crowell and her brother Bob Weimont. In addition to her immediate family, Hope leaves behind an incredible extended family and a group of girlfriends with over six decades of friendship deemed ‘The Big Six’ in Ann Jackson, Carlene Merrill, Cynthia Baer, Terry Atkinson, Laurie Husmer Morris and Barbara Courage. Hope has reunited with her parents, her son Michael and her brother Doug and will be a constant guardian overlooking those she held dearest in life.

Growing up in Amherst, NH in the Weimont homestead affectionately known as ‘The Red House’, Hope sought out fun when not directing her siblings around. She would ride horses into the Village, ‘jitterbug’ with friends at dance parties at The Red House, sunbathe at the beach as well as display a competitive streak on the tennis courts that transferred over to trying to outwit those closest to her in word games like Scrabble and family Yahtzee games.

Hope moved to the Hudson Valley in New York in 1972 and lived there for over twenty years raising her three children. Many of those years were spent in the West Hurley area where she worked tirelessly managing The West Hurley Corner Store. One to always take care of others, she was like a mother figure and became lifelong friends to so many young adults in that community that worked for her.

A lifelong lover of learning, Hope graduated from Milford High School in 1961. While there, she was a majorette in the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corp and was awarded the coveted title of ‘Queen’ of the Snow Ball while also being a member of the Court one year. Across time her education transformed to understanding whatever interests her children and grandchildren had. Always one to speak her mind, usually done through verbal jabs and endearing piercing glances, Hope rarely met her match until she met her ‘handsome grandson’ whom she doted on and was a great source of pride and joy for her. Her granddaughter, Delaney, inherited her love of dancing and kept Hope on her toes with her spirited personality.

Hope loved spending time with her family, celebrating her Swedish heritage through food and singing Helan Går at family gatherings, having a cup of coffee with both human and animal companions, learning about the English monarchy, sharing her birthday with Tom Brady, eating sweets such as her beloved hot fudge sundaes and jellybeans and staying connected with the latest gossip. She lived vicariously through watching her children and grandchildren grow, travel and accomplish things she advocated for.

Have her life remind us to live with intent, act with love, welcome all those you encounter near and far with a smile on your face and above all live life with HOPE.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Hope W. Dodd may be made to St. Joseph Hospital’s Department of Oncology in care of St. Joseph Hospital Resource Development, 172 Kinsley Street, PO Box 2013, Nashua, NH 03061-2013. A private family service and celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com