Hope H. Jeffrey

On April 3, 2024, Hope Heisey Jeffrey (“Hobby”), of South Dartmouth, Massachusetts (formerly of Tenafly, New Jersey), passed away peacefully at the age of 80 with her husband, children, and brother by her side. A loving and devoted mother, wife, sister, and friend, Hobby was kind-hearted and caring and will be fondly remembered for her radiant smile and ability to make others feel welcome.

Hobby was born on June 9, 1943, in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Granville, Ohio. The second of four children, she graduated with honors from Granville High School where she was a member of the varsity cheerleading squad. In her senior year she met her husband and the love of her life, David Jeffrey, when she babysat for his niece and nephews. She received an Associate Degree in 1963 from Bradford Junior College and married David shortly thereafter at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Granville. The couple moved to New York City later that year.

In 1966, Hobby and David welcomed their first child. They relocated to Teaneck, New Jersey the following year, and in 1968 moved to Tenafly where they raised their four children and remained for nearly 40 years. Hobby was the bookkeeper at her husband’s company, David Jeffrey Associates, and later enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College in New York City, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1987.

Children were the center of Hobby’s life and eventually became the focus of her career. She spent years volunteering at a day care center in Englewood, New Jersey, and at The York Street Project in Jersey City. In 2002, she earned a Master’s Degree in Early Child Development from Bank Street College in New York, which led to a teaching position at the Learning Center in New York City where she eventually served as Director. After spending many summers at their home in South Dartmouth, she and David made it their primary residence. Hobby volunteered as a tutor for several years and in 2023 was elected a trustee of Our Sister’s School in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Hobby led an active life, full of art, family, friends, and travel. She loved the outdoors and especially cherished her time in Captiva, Florida, where she and David spent the winter months. She swam, rode her bicycle, and walked the beach for miles collecting seashells. She was an avid reader, often finishing multiple books per week. She and David loved foreign travel and prioritized time for trips to far-flung places, such as Bali, Tibet, Patagonia, Myanmar, and Botswana. Later in life, she enjoyed trips abroad with her children and grandchildren to celebrate significant birthdays and anniversaries. Nothing brought her more joy than spending time with her grandchildren. She frequently traveled long distances to attend their birthdays, sporting events, plays, and school functions, equally prioritizing time with all nine.

Hobby is predeceased by her parents, Augustus II and Susan Heisey; sisters, Susan Been and Justina Heisey, and her son, Patrick A. Jeffrey. She is survived by her husband of more than 60 years, David L.K. Jeffrey; brother, Augustus Heisey III, of Tybee Island, GA; children, Joel M. Jeffrey (Mary) of Montclair, NJ, Silas J. Jeffrey (Lisa) of Brooklyn, NY, and Zoe J. Stoesser (Bradford) of Brookline, MA; daughter-in-law, Beth Jeffrey of Maplewood, NJ; grandchildren, Caitlyn, Isaac, Quinn, Phoebe, Colin, Christina, Hannah, Madeleine, and Gwyneth, plus many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to honor Hobby’s life at a memorial service on Thursday, April 18, 2024 11:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 351 Elm Street, South Dartmouth, MA. https://stpetersdartmouth.org/.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks donations be made in Hobby’s memory to Our Sister’s School in New Bedford, MA. https://www.oursistersschool.org/donate