Hannah Josephine Rooney Medow Hope

Hannah (Medow) Hope, 33, of Rochester, MN, died at the Mayo Clinic on February 24, 2026 after a valiantly-fought 4 year battle with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. She is survived by her beloved husband, Jon Hope (and their dog, Archie), her adoring parents, Fr. David and Jane Medow of Rochester, MN and her ever-loving brother, Nikolai (Katlynn) of Anoka, MN, her mother-in-law Kristin Hope-Morrow (Michael Morrow) of The Villages, FL and her brother-in-law, Michael (Michelle) Hope of Rochester, NY., also many aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends from around the world, most notably in the UK, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Ghana, and Ecuador.

Hannah was born March 7, 1992 in Joliet, IL. She spent her formative years in Plainfield, IL. She graduated from St. Mary Immaculate Parish School in Plainfield, Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, IL, St. Xavier University in Chicago (BA Major: Clinical/Counseling Psychology, Minor: Sociology), and National Louis University of Chicago (EdS School Psychology). She worked as a School Psychologist in the Public Schools of Anchorage, Alaska and Rochester, Minnesota, mostly lately at Harriet Bishop Elementary School in Rochester. In both places she was recognized as a valuable member of the School Psych team and a leader in her field. In her work Hannah touched the lives of hundreds of students and their families. She was deeply respected by her colleagues, who relied on her for her professional skills and wisdom.

Hannah was a woman of abiding and passionate Catholic faith. At St. Mary Immaculate in Plainfield she took on various tasks: Bulletin Editor, Youth Ministry Coordinator, Receptionist, Choir (she loved to sing!), and Vacation Bible School Music Coordinator. Her faith and heart had a great impact on the life and people of the parish. In college she worked as a Cantor for Masses, in Reverence for Life, Peace and Social Justice groups, and in Campus Ministry. Her faith and the values of the Church were always at the center of her life. This was true in her family life, her relationship with friends and her professional performance. One current colleague referred to Hannah as “true Salt and Light.”

In May, 2022 she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. At times her medical team were concerned for her survival. But Hannah always fought cancer with a spirit that was indefatigable. Her oncologist referred to Hannah as “robust”. She earned this reputation through enduring surgeries, radiation treatments, nearly 50 rounds of chemotherapy as well as recently undergoing Immunotherapy at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD. She has been blessed with outstanding medical care from physicians, nurses and technicians both at Mayo and the NIH. Their most compassionate treatments and care provided Hannah with years of life that she lived to the full despite the many challenges that came with her wide variety of treatments.

Hannah loved nothing more than spending time with family and friends. She was a great friend to many. There are scores of people who consider Hannah to be their “best friend.” Her family simply adored her and admired her as an able, confident, skilled, compassionate, effective person and professional who was straightforward in communication, endlessly loyal as a friend, fiercely honest, abidingly faithful. Since her early teens, many of her peers sought her out for counsel and advice; she was invariably helpful.

Throughout her cancer journey, she always publicly displayed her fighting spirit and uncomplaining nature. There were times when her pain or ongoing physical struggles would get the best of her for a few hours…that’s when she relied on the love and devoted help and presence of her loving family.

By the grace of God and the skilled care of her doctors and nurses, Hannah’s death came gently, free from pain or anxiety; she was surrounded by her loving family and intimate friends who sang and prayed with her through their own struggles in saying goodbye to Hannah. All of us who love her trust in the promise of God that we will see Hannah again and “enjoy her friendship forever.” May God grant to Hannah the fullness of grace and mercy, the joy of being free from cancer, the peace of seeing God face to face and the solace of being reunited with loved ones and friends who left this world before her.

The Funeral Mass for Hannah Medow Hope will take place on Tuesday, March 3 at Holy Spirit Parish in Rochester, MN. Visitation begins at 9:00 am with the Mass beginning at 11:00 am. Burial will take place later that day in Oakwood east Cemetery. There will also be an evening Memorial Mass for Hannah on Monday, May 4, at St. Mary Immaculate Parish in Plainfield, IL.

Eternal Rest grant to Hannah, O Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon her. May Hannah rest in peace.