The Villages, Fla. – Hope Ann Vittum, of The Villages, Fla., passed away Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018 at the age of 76, under the loving care and concern of her husband and best friend, Raymond Bradbury (Bud) Vittum Jr.
She was born Jan. 5, 1943 in Jersey City, N.J., the daughter of William H. and Frances C. (McKee) Moulton. Hope grew up in West Roxbury and Waltham, where she met the love of her life at the age of 14 while attending Saint Mary’s High School. A former March of Dimes beauty queen, Hope captured the permanent attention of her husband through a planned wedding ceremony Dec. 31, 1960 at Our Lady’s Church in Waltham. The couple then embarked on a whirlwind tour of exotic naval bases, such as those located in Memphis, Tenn.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Brunswick, Maine, while Bud was enlisted as a navigator in the United States Navy.
Hope gave birth to five children, Tracey, Brad, Craig, Mark, and Dean, and raised them with Bud in Marlborough, where they lived for 25 years. Hope was deeply involved in the Boys & Girls Club of Waltham and Marlborough, where her children participated in numerous activities. She enjoyed working various jobs throughout their childhood, but always found time to be present at school functions, all her sons’ sporting events, and her daughter’s accordion recitals.
Upon retiring with her husband in 1990, Hope and Bud were fortunate to travel throughout the United States several times in their R.V., visiting many states and most notably all the national parks. She enjoyed trips abroad and settling in various places such as Hilton Head, S.C.; Virginia Beach, Va.; and finally in The Villages, Fla.
Hope had many interests outside of her immediate family including spending time with close high school friends, playing pickle ball with “The Dames,” spending time with her loving brother Glenn Moulton and his wife Linda, and following her favorite sports teams that included the Atlanta Braves, the New England Patriots, and the Boston Celtics. She was never known to have a short conversation with her children or grandchildren, and the conversation was never about her and typically about them, involving hundreds of questions of inquiry about their lives, interests, and beliefs. She also enjoyed conversing at length about politics and sports.
Hope and Bud had a wonderful chemistry and were always collaborating on numerous projects around the house or making handmade gifts for the children and grandchildren. From painted sea shell Christmas ornaments to creating elaborate wood carvings, Hope would provide the idea and theme for the project and Bud would get busy creating it through his artistic talents.
Hope leaves behind her beloved husband of 57 years, Raymond (Bud) Vittum Jr.; daughter Tracey Duffy and her husband Daniel of Northborough; son Brad and his wife Misty of Virginia Beach, Va.; son Craig and his wife Elizabeth of Grafton; son Mark and his wife Kelly of Sandy, Utah; and son Dean and his wife Jennifer of Marlborough. Hope was a loving grandmother and “Meme” to Courtney, Kevin, and Shane Duffy; Summer and Ray Vittum; Drew and Jacqueline Vittum; Madeline Vittum; and Benedetto, Anastasia, Ethan, and Merideth Vittum. She also leaves her brother, Glenn and his wife Linda of The Villages, Fla.; her brother, Gary and his wife Kathleen of Northborough; a sister-in-law, Nancy Williams of Cornelius, N.C.; a sister-in-law, Beatrice Moulton of Northampton; a brother-in-law, John Frizzell of North Brookfield; a brother-in-law, Richard Vittum and his wife Judy of Waltham; and many nieces, nephews, and their families. Hope was predeceased by her sister, Gail Frizzell of North Brookfield; her brother, Dennis Moulton of Northampton; and her brother-in-law, Edward Williams of Cornelius, N.C.
A celebration of life will be held this summer in Massachusetts.
Donations can be made in Hope’s name to the March of Dimes at https://www.marchofdimes.org/giving/support-general.aspx.
