PORTER - Hope (Hammond) Churchill, 88, of Porter, Maine. On November 22, 2023, God sent an Angel to take her home. She passed away quietly at her home on Summer Street. She was born August 17, 1935, at her home in Porter, to Carl J. Hammond and Mildred (Pierce) Hammond, the youngest of 3 children.
She attended local schools graduating from Porter High School in 1953. Her motto in her senior yearbook was, “Hope is life and life is Hope.” Her favorite saying was “Oh really.” But recently it has been, “Isn’t that too bad.” Growing up she was very active. She played basketball, was a cheerleader, played in the school band and was head majorette. She took part in the school play and prize speaking. In June of 1953 she married Rodney Stacey, the father of her four children. In 2016, at the age of 81, she married a lifelong friend, Thomas Churchill of Washington state. He fulfilled the emptiness she had for many years that only a spouse could fill.
In 1965 she was included in the 1965 edition of Outstanding Women of America because of her outstanding ability, accomplishments and service to her community, country and professions. She was an accomplished seamstress and cook. She has been outstanding ever since!
Hope took part in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk for many years and was head of the Alzheimer’s support group in the area. She was well known for her catering and wallpapering which she did with Tillie Huber. In later years she became a caregiver for many in the area.
She was a member of the Lamplighters, WSCS (Women Society of Christian Service), the LMR Club and the 21 Club, always serving in any capacity where she was needed. Hope was a 72-year member of the Riverside United Methodist Church in Kezar Falls serving as Sunday school teacher, president of the UMW, a member of the choir, as well as playing with the chime group. She served on every committee there was. The Holly-Berry-Affair was established in 1966 where she later served as chairperson. She oversaw the making of 50-75 wreaths each year while making sure the door was surrounded with boughs and lights. The round stained glass window in the sanctuary was always surrounded with boughs. She would be part of the decorating team, while working on the food table, the craft table, in the tearoom, and working in the kitchen cooking and preparing for the supper.
She was a faithful member of the Meeting House Singers and this was a highlight in her life. She loved dancing! Put on some music and she would start moving. She took a trip across the country with George, Luanne, and their families one summer. A memory she left for all of them. Another summer she went to Hawaii with Gene and his family. A memory she left them all with. She always said, “Don’t ask me to go if you don’t want me to because I will always say yes.” Hope and Tom went on a three-week train trip to Salem, Oregon to see Tom’s family and to get a closer look at the eclipse. Tom said Hope enjoyed the dining car as they were always seated with someone from a different part of the world and she was very interested in learning about their culture. She, Tom, Rhonda, and Rick took two different bus trips with a Brad White tour to Pennsylvania to the Amish community where she experienced another highlight, plays at Sight and Sound. She loved parades where she would go in costume for a float or just enjoy showing her ‘29 Chevy and ‘32 Rockne.
A big part of her life was spent at her camp on Bickford Pond. She loved life at camp and the time spent there, beginning when she was a small child. Time at Bickford was time spent with her family and many of her lifelong friends that she made there. She always looked forward to the Big O, a gathering she was part of creating in 1995, that took place each year.
Her spiritual life grew when she walked the road to Emmaus, and when she took two different Gaither Cruises. She often considered herself as part of their family. She made a trip to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to help build houses in that area. “What can I do? - How can I help?” That was Hope. Helping others was who she was. She took great interest in Samaritan's Purse - founder of Operation Christmas Child, where she served as host in the Kezar Falls area for over 10 years. She even went to Charlotte, NC to the distribution center to help pack cartons to be shipped around the world. She knew it was important that everyone know Jesus.
Hope was an avid fan of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was always attending their sporting events, their church events, and their school events. She always played an important part in the family gatherings, of which there were many.
Hope was predeceased by her parents, a son George Stacey, brothers (George) Ronald Hammond and his wife Ann, Jack Hammond, nephews Mike and Chris Hammond and her first husband Rodney Stacey.
Surviving are her husband of 7 years, Thomas Churchill of Porter, daughter Rhonda Sanborn and husband Rick, daughter-in-law Marylou Whitney Stacey, son Eugene Stacey and wife Marylou M., daughter Luanne Mudgett and husband David, and a sister-in-law Patricia Hammond of Georgia. Also two step-sons, Barton Churchill of Montana and Carl Churchill of Oregon. She had 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren with one on the way. She had many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Hope devoted her entire life to others, her family, church, and community. She always put them first, never thinking of herself. She will be missed profoundly by all those who knew and loved her. At the end of her life she was put into the care of Northern Light Hospice. They took amazing care of her like she had done for so many others.
A celebration of Hope’s life will be held at the Riverside United Methodist Church in Kezar Falls on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at 2:00 PM with fellowship to follow in the vestry.
In lieu of flowers please make any donations in her memory to Samaritan's Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, samaritanspurse.org, tel.# 1-828-262-1980
Memories and condolences may be shared with family at the Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home website, www.mainefuneral.com