Mother of singer Dolores (stage name Reade) Hope and Mildred Malatesta. Mother-in-law of entertainer Bob Hope. She resided with the Hopes in Toluca Lake, California, for many years and died in their home after a long illness, just two days prior to the death of Hope's longtime friend Bing Crosby. She married John Thomas DeFina, of Saratoga, New York, in 1924. At the time of her death she was also survived by sisters Helen Smith of Lomita, California, and Alice Grove of Peapack, New Jersey; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is buried alongside her two sisters mentioned above, her brother, Harry Kelly, and his son, Henry.
PLEASE READ: This page memorializes her former, original burial place among her siblings, as noted below! It is maintained and sponsored by me for historical purposes. This was at the same cemetery where Bob Hope's body was kept in an unmarked crypt from 2003 to 2005 while a family memorial was planned and constructed.
She was reinterred along with Hope at neighboring Mission San Fernando Rey de España on the grounds of the San Fernando Mission in the Bob Hope Memorial Gardens which was opened to the public July 29, 2005.
A page was created for her new burial spot by someone else in 2006 HERE. Thanks!
PLEASE READ: This page memorializes her former, original burial place among her siblings, as noted below! It is maintained and sponsored by me for historical purposes. This was at the same cemetery where Bob Hope's body was kept in an unmarked crypt from 2003 to 2005 while a family memorial was planned and constructed.
She was reinterred along with Hope at neighboring Mission San Fernando Rey de España on the grounds of the San Fernando Mission in the Bob Hope Memorial Gardens which was opened to the public July 29, 2005.
A page was created for her new burial spot by someone else in 2006 HERE. Thanks!
Mother of singer Dolores (stage name Reade) Hope and Mildred Malatesta. Mother-in-law of entertainer Bob Hope. She resided with the Hopes in Toluca Lake, California, for many years and died in their home after a long illness, just two days prior to the death of Hope's longtime friend Bing Crosby. She married John Thomas DeFina, of Saratoga, New York, in 1924. At the time of her death she was also survived by sisters Helen Smith of Lomita, California, and Alice Grove of Peapack, New Jersey; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She is buried alongside her two sisters mentioned above, her brother, Harry Kelly, and his son, Henry.
PLEASE READ: This page memorializes her former, original burial place among her siblings, as noted below! It is maintained and sponsored by me for historical purposes. This was at the same cemetery where Bob Hope's body was kept in an unmarked crypt from 2003 to 2005 while a family memorial was planned and constructed.
She was reinterred along with Hope at neighboring Mission San Fernando Rey de España on the grounds of the San Fernando Mission in the Bob Hope Memorial Gardens which was opened to the public July 29, 2005.
A page was created for her new burial spot by someone else in 2006 HERE. Thanks!
PLEASE READ: This page memorializes her former, original burial place among her siblings, as noted below! It is maintained and sponsored by me for historical purposes. This was at the same cemetery where Bob Hope's body was kept in an unmarked crypt from 2003 to 2005 while a family memorial was planned and constructed.
She was reinterred along with Hope at neighboring Mission San Fernando Rey de España on the grounds of the San Fernando Mission in the Bob Hope Memorial Gardens which was opened to the public July 29, 2005.
A page was created for her new burial spot by someone else in 2006 HERE. Thanks!
Bio by: Lisa Burks
