Ardythe Denise “Ardy” Hope, daughter of the late Arthur Dennis Hope Sr. and the Late Paula Dupree Hope, was born October 5, 1968, in Wilmington, Delaware. She departed this life December 1, 2016, at the Crozier Medical Center.

Ardy received her early education in the public schools of Wilmington, Delaware, and graduated from Howard VoTech in 1986. While attending Howard, she received special awards for track and field as the Athlete of the Week, and as a sophomore Ardy placed first with a time of 19:42.4 in the 5000-meter course at the Delaware High School Cross Country Championship Meet. After graduating from high school, she attended Barbara Scotia College and the University of Pittsburgh, where she ran track. Ardy returned to Wilmington to raise her daughter, Aryelle.

Lt. Ardythe Hope was hired on August 2, 1993, as a member of the 28th Wilmington Fire Department Academy Recruit Class, along with 27 other individuals. Upon graduating from the fire academy, she was assigned to Engine Company 6 A-Platoon. Assigned throughout her career to various engine companies, her final assignment was to Engine Company 5 on the C-Platoon.

During her career, Lt. Hope received numerous hours of training in all aspects of the fire service and Pro-Board National Certifications including Firefighter I & II, Fire Service Instructor I, National Registered Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Officer I, and Driver Operator. Lt. Hope received many letters of appreciation from members of the community and a City Council Proclamation; she was also awarded the Wilmington Fire Department’s Physical Fitness Award.

While working on the Wilmington Fire Department, Ardy managed to attend school in pursuit of a nursing degree. She received her LPN license and was in the process of completing her RN. Along the way, Ardy had two more daughters, Alexis and Ardavia. Ardy made sure that her daughters knew they were loved and that they were the joy of her life.

Ardy enjoyed vacationing with her family. She loved family events, backyard barbeques, backyard sleep under the stars with morning cookouts and drinking coffee, and spending time with her girls.

Ardy leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Aryelle D. Hope, Alexis D. Lee, and Ardavia D. Lee; sister, Simone D. Cummings, and husband, Bobby; brothers, Paul L. Dupree, Mark M. Dupree, and wife, Roselynn, and Author D. Hope Jr.; granddaughter, Monay Payne; nieces and nephews, Monet, Joy, Jazmine, Janae, Aaliyah, Artazua, Aria, Ricky, Markavis, Aaron, Mark Jr., and Mikey; aunts and uncles, Pete, Vernell, Carlos, and Shirley Dupree; and a host of other relatives, cousins, and friends.