Sister Hulme was one of a kind. The most kind, gentle and loving person most of us will ever know. She was VERY talented. She was a published author, an artist, an amazing musician and most of all, someone that would build everyone up and make them feel important.
She has been teaching the youth in our ward to conduct the music in Sacrament meeting for many years. They would individually go through a training course, a boot camp of sorts, to teach them music theory and how to conduct a congregation the right way. Maddison was blessed enough to be one of her students. Sister Hulme would say, "anyone can LEAD music, but it takes training and talent to start and stop a congregation.". She would take these youth under her wing and pass on her love of music. It was really quite a privilege for them!
In the initial months that she was training Maddison, she would tell me (in her intense voice), "Hope, that Maddison is ONE TALENTED GIRL! She can carry a tune like no one I've ever heard! She has natural rhythm and is an absolute joy to be with, just like her mother!" What a compliment! I don't know what she heard, but she thought I was, "the strongest alto in all of Southern Utah!" haha!!!!
She was always so complimentary. A few years ago, while doing a Relief Society lesson, I mentioned my blog. She came up to me after church an insisted I forward her the link to my blog (she was also very tech savvy, which is cool for being 87 years old!). The next Sunday, she came up to me and said, "Hope, that blog of yours is truly amazing! You have such a way with words! So descriptive! I bet you could make a blind man see with those words!" She was always so joyful!
My current calling is to make and print the Sacrament meeting program. Just a couple of weeks ago, she caught me in the hall and said, "Hope, (she always used your name) I have been in this church for a long, LONG time and I have NEVER seen someone do a program like you! You are so great at it! Everything you touch turns to gold! I just love you!" It made me laugh and made me so happy. She was complimenting me on the silliest calling in the church but made me feel 10 feet tall!
At her funeral today, as her children spoke, they talked about all the students she has taught to play piano, organ and conduct. They figure it's in the thousands by the time it trickles down the line. What a blessing!
The closing hymn of her funeral was very emotional. 7 of her (many) students got up to lead the closing hymn in unison. Maddison was one of them. 7 beautiful youth, leading all together. Sharing the talent that she had passed on to them. There was also one girl on the organ and one on the piano that were also students of Sister Hulme! It was very sweet. We could FEEL that beautiful angel with us at that moment! Smiling, like she always did and whispering the words, "well done".
Sister Hulme never missed a step, never missed a note! She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside! We all love her so very much!
This earth got a little bit darker on Tuesday, but Heaven got a lot brighter, for sure!!!! I am blessed to have known this amazing woman, I love her so very much.
1 comment:
Hope, I am Lois's oldest grandchild. You pegged her perfectly in your blog. You do have such a way with words. Thank you for that wonderful tribute. I know she ascended straight up to heaven and organized the whole place on the spot. :) She was one of the most influential people in my life and I am so blessed to have lived around the corner from her for 18 years of my life. I was so sad when she moved to St. George, but once I saw that even more people could benefit from she and grandpa's talents and goodness I knew it was a good thing. She commented to me about a year after they moved to St. George, "Your grandfather and I moved to St. George to retire, but truthfully we've never been so busy!!" Thank you all for being an extended part of our family. Natalie Hulme Isom
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