On September 27, 2014, an angel departed this earthly plane back to the heaven from which she came. Hope G. Carlson Hunt was a devoted wife of more than 55 years to her surviving husband, Donald Hunt. She was also a mother of three, grandmother of four, great-grandmother of two, a sister, aunt, great aunt, and a best friend to the weary. Words can never encapsulate the depth of love, motherhood, and sisterhood that she shared with those around her. Hope Hunt lived her life moved deeply by her innate belief in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and she magnified and personified Christ-like love, acceptance, generosity, faith, and compassion. With the arms of an angel and the love of God Himself, anyone and everyone who met Hope was moved to joy, warmth, and peace. Born in Minnesota and raised in rural, Kane, Pennsylvania, Hope G. Carlson Hunt was the eldest of five children to Swedish immigrant parents. She moved through her life, confronted with trials and tribulations, with an unwavering positivity and belief in the power of healing and communion with others. She was always the first to give and the last to expect to receive. With the deepest humility and gentle spirit, Hope Hunt sought nothing more than to share the love of Christ alive in her with anyone and everyone she encountered. Devoted to a life of ministry, Hope Hunt shared her natural gift as a pianist to fill churches and nursing homes throughout Brandon, Florida, for more than 40 years. Not one to boast about her talents, she played the piano by ear and could always be trusted to know the hymns to play to provide comfort, joy, and worship for those seeking it. Her grandchildren's fondest memories of her, as they have kept her piano in their family for generations to come, were late nights in the dimly lit music room of her house with her playing the piano for them next to her exquisite harp. A memory only rivaled by her making homemade chocolate chip cookies with them as children as they sat on her kitchen counter sneaking bites of cookie dough out of the bowl. And, though Hope Hunt was known to be one of the healthiest people in her family, often choosing salads over hearty meals, she had a love of sweets that only her grandchildren fully knew existed. Late nights with a pack of Oreos and milk, giggling with her grandchildren about never telling anyone about their sweet adventures, Hope Hunt would jokingly (and embarrassingly) say that a third person must have snuck in because all the Oreos got eaten. How do you capture such a rich soul and life on a such a small sheet of paper? If she had any say in the matter, she would insist that none of this was written, because it's too much attention and praise for such a simple woman. But, those of us most intimately affected by her know that it will forever be too little said for a woman who has been the rock of our family, the light in the darkness, and the unwavering love and gentleness in an often unloving and harsh world. Honoring the message that Hope Hunt always wanted to share with the world, may you know this - there is an infinite power, alive and well, permeating through all struggle and mourning, that has the strength to walk beside you and transform the deepest pain to the greatest joy. That One is Jesus Christ. That is the hope she wants us to remember and cling to. The hope that carried her through all 79 of her years. The hope that is everlasting. Her life is undeniable proof of the existence and love of God that covers us all. To be around her was to see that. Whether you knew what it was or not, you could not help but feel you were special. We thank you, Hope, for giving us such hope. In lieu of flowers, contributions are suggested to the family.