Posted on 09/24/2011 9:27:31 PM PDT by Salvation
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By Catholic News Service
LOS ANGELES Dolores Hope, a lifelong Catholic who was the widow of comedian Bob Hope and an entertainer in her own right, died Sept. 19 at age 102 at her home in Toluca Lake outside of Los Angeles. A family spokesman said she died of natural causes.
"Dolores Hope was a Catholic of deep and abiding faith, and her own spiritual journey was her highest priority," Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said in a statement. "Her deep life in Christ was the spring board for her charitable giving to countless ministries, apostolates, and works of mercy across the country and around the world."
"Both the entertainment world and the church have lost a woman of profound faith, gifted musical talent, and dedication to the betterment of peoples worldwide," he said. "The death of Dolores Hope leaves a huge void in Southern California."
With her husband Mrs. Hope supported numerous Catholic causes over the years and continued to do so after his death in 2003. Among other efforts the couple were the benefactors of the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain, France, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
News reports said funeral services for Mrs. Hope would be private, followed by burial next to her husband at the Bob Hope Memorial Garden in the San Fernando Mission in Mission Hills.
Mrs. Hope and her husband were longtime members of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in North Hollywood. But it wasn't until 1996 that Bob Hope officially became a member of the Catholic Church. She and Bob had been married 69 years when he died July 27, 2003. Dolores was praised as an instrument in her husband's baptism into the church.
"Dolores has always known the gift of faith is the greatest gift you give," said Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, at a memorial Mass celebrated for Bob in August 2003 at the national shrine. The cardinal, then archbishop of Washington, was a longtime friend of the Hopes.
Born Dolores DeFina May 27, 1909, to an Italian father and an Irish mother in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood, Dolores grew up in the Bronx. After her father's death, she and her sister were raised by their mother.
During the 1930s, Dolores began a singing career as Dolores Reade on the advice of her agent. In 1933, after appearing at a Manhattan nightclub, she was introduced to Bob Hope.
The two were married Feb. 19, 1934, and she joined his vaudeville act. They later adopted four children Nora, Linda, Kelly and Anthony, who died in 2004. The family moved to Hollywood in 1938 so Bob could launch his film career. Dolores had left show business so she could stay home to raise their children.
In the 1940s, Dolores began helping her husband on his tours entertaining U.S. troops overseas and she would continue to do so for more than 50 years. In 1990, she was the only female entertainer allowed to perform in Saudi Arabia. It was Bob's last trip to entertain U.S. troops.
At age 83, she revived her singing career and recorded her first compact disc, "Dolores Hope: Now and Then." She followed this with three additional albums and also recorded a Christmas CD with Bob entitled "Hopes for the Holidays."
Among the many Catholic charities the Hopes supported was Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops' overseas relief and development agency. In 1999, the couple matched actor Paul Newman's $250,000 donation to CRS to assist Kosovar refugees with a quarter-million dollars of their own.
They were among the first contributors of the Big Shoulders Fund, a nonprofit Chicago organization whose contributions go to inner-city Catholic elementary and secondary schools. In 1988, they received the first Big Shoulders Award.
In his statement, Archbishop Gomez noted that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles benefited regularly over the years with the couple's "generous donations to innumerable projects and programs," including the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels building program.
Mrs. Hope received many honors over the years, including the Patronal Medal bestowed by the national shrine in Washington and The Catholic University of America; the National Council of Catholic Women's first Distinguished Service Award; and the Cardinal Award, presented by Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, when he was archbishop of Los Angeles.
She was one of the first women in the world to become a Dame Commander with Star of the papal order of St. Gregory the Great, bestowed by Pope John Paul II.
Msgr. Rossi, rector of the national shrine, called Mrs. Hope "a legendary American and exemplary Catholic whose faith was the foundation of her life." He praised her and her husband's longtime support of the national shrine, especially their funding of the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope.
The priest said Mrs. Hope was among the thousands who attended the dedication of the Washington shrine's upper church in 1959.
"When the chapel was being built, Mrs. Hope supervised the construction ... and until recent years, Dolores visited the chapel to pray and to make an onsite inspection to ensure that the chapel was kept in pristine condition," he said
Msgr. Rossi noted a foundation established by the Hopes will make sure "the chapel will always be 'attended to.'"
May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Anything rare about “lifelong?”
As compared to what?
A convert?
Some who was baptized a Catholic, then left the Church for awhile, then returned?
They are still all Catholics, aren’t they?
Someone who was baptized a Catholic, then left the Church for awhile, then returned?
In context of the story, I assumed they put “lifelong Catholic” to contrast with her husband Bob, who the story mentions did not become a Catholic until 1996.
As for your question of, is anything rare about lifelong Catholics, did the story mention anything about it being rare?
If so, I missed that.
BTW, I’m not Catholic.
Wouldn’t want you to assume facts not in evidence...
“Steadfast” is the term I would have used.
Last night, EWTN aired a repeat of Mother Angelica’s interview of Dolores Hope. I was amazed that someone with all that wealth, living in modern Sodom and Gomorrah, was able to remain so faithful. She said she avoided those people, prayed the Rosary daily and tried to always attend daily Mass.
I have a friend who, when in his 20s, worked as an assistant to Bob. When Bob retired, he let my friend go - but insisted that he always be paid his full retainer as long as he stayed in the business. Past Bob’s death in 2003, my buddy always looked after and checked on Dolores and, thanks to the generosity and support of the Hopes, has grown to be one of Hollywood’s top publicists. To her last days, and despite his decades of reminders to Dolores that he’s quite “well off”, she insisted that my friend be remain in their trust fund as part of the family. He’s as the estate now, taking care of the thousands of incoming condolences from around the world.
I had no idea they were Catholic but they did always seem so happy and serene.
I went on a pilgrimage trip to the Basilica in D.C. I saw this Hope Chapel. It is beautiful anointed place. May she rest in peace.
Such a great lady.
Like Mrs. Hope, I’m half Irish and half Italian. These two cultures seem to find each other attractive! I think it has to do with the shared faith, expressiveness, family ties, tempers, and love of the arts.
You don’t want to mess with Irish/Italians; we tell you what we think and no one can hold a grudge like the Irish and the Italians.
Rest in peace, Mrs. Hope. You were a wonderful example of the Catholic faith lived in action.
It is a very beautiful, special place. Bob and Dolores Hope, what a couple!
That sounds like it was a wonderful program. Unfortunately, I missed it.
Thanks for sharing that story of the generosity of Bob and Dolores Hope.
I’ll get there someday!
After my husband died I read a book now out of print, “Without Thorns, It’s Not a Rose.”
The story of Dolores Hope’s suffering with Bob’s departure to entertain troops over holidays on end was so inspiring to me. She just suffered his absence in silence at Thanksgiving and Christmas and prayed.
Wow ! She suffered so he could entertain people who would maybe die.
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