Fellow Pioneers: As you may know, the passage of Anna Jones Hope was celebrated on December 1st and 2nd. On the night of the 1st, a memorial was held for her at Sisco's Restaurant on 6th Street. With her name prominently on the marquee and a full house inside, it was a true celebration of a wife, musician, mother and friend. With fellow Class of 1966 members Karen (Hegerich) Litterer, Sue (Koch) Aspinall, Arlene (Koons) Rosen and Shirley (Worthington) Murphy in attendance and other JHHS Alumni Judy Koch, Janice Hocker and Helen Sue Musser (all '68?) there as well, we were treated to an evening of excellent music and collective appreciation. Two groups with whom Anna had performed, Penn's Woods and The Old World Folk Band were notable for their entertainment and their affectionate praise of Anna's musicianship.


From Norman Gaines

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Part of the evening was also guided by a microphone that was passed around to members of the audience, a very nice touch that gave her children, friends and former students a chance to further sing her praises well into the evening's close.


One final and fitting touch was that Sisco's placed a metal plaque at one of the booths in the restaurant naming it for her. For those who have gone or will go to Sisco's, please ask to sit at our classmate and friends' table.


Since I let myself be bamboozled by the weatherman's threats of bad weather between Harrisburg and Hartsdale, I will quote Karen (Hegerich) Litterer's description of the Anna's Sunday service:


"Sue, Arlene, Shirley and I went to the Friends

Memorial Meeting for Worship on Sunday. I had never

been to a Quaker meeting and was amazed at the

simplicity. There was a woman playing harp while

everyone arrived. Then the room was full and

completely quiet, with the opportunity given to any

and all to offer words in memory and celebration of

Anna. The silence was as meaningful as the words

spoken. It was very moving and lasted about an hour or

so. Afterwards there was a gathering downstairs to

meet with the family and share refreshments"


And so passed our classmate Anna Jones Hope, JHHS Class of 1966....