COLUMBIA - Hope Elisabeth Gelting passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on June 21, 2014. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 28, 2014 at Dunbar Funeral Home Northeast Chapel. The family will receive friends following the service at the chapel.
Born in San Jose, California on May 30, 1964; she graduated from Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto and continued her education with a Bachelor's Degree from San Diego State University and a Master's Degree from Walden University.
Hope was a devoted mother to her children and was so proud of their academic accomplishments as well as Nick’s baseball prowess and Catie’s dance talent. Hope was a dedicated educator and committed her entire career to helping children learn. She served as a special education teacher for over 20 years and was on the staff at Mill Creek Elementary School since 2000. Always a passionate advocate for her students’ needs she worked tirelessly to help them succeed, sometimes taking especially needy children on outings at her own expense.
Animals also enjoyed Hope’s affection and attention. From a young age she shared her life with many types including dogs, cats, chickens, and horses. Over the years she personally rescued many and consistently supported organizations dedicated to animal welfare.
Hope was brave, tenacious, and pragmatic. Later in life as she faced a life threatening illness she remained strong and focused. These qualities were evident in her advocacy for the inclusion of breast density information in mammogram results so women can make informed screening choices. Her powerful, personal testimony helped a proposed legislative amendment pass the state senate and the bill is now before the house.
Hope touched many lives and was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. All creatures great and small will dearly miss her love, loyalty, and laughter.
She is survived by her children, Nick Gelting and Catie Gelting both of Columbia; mother, Mary Catherine Carroll of Palo Alto, CA; father, Fred Ludeman of Granite Bay, CA and brothers, Rick Ludeman of Portland, OR and Matt Ludeman of San Francisco, CA.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Are You Dense, Inc., 96 Rowley Road, Woodbury, CT, 06798. http://www.areyoudense.org/donation/
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