Hope Draper Richards, 82, passed away peacefully January 20, 2026, with family by her side. She was born in Attleboro, MA on October 7, 1943, to Oscar and Florence (Beach) Draper. 

As a child, Hope spent many summers in Grand Lake Stream with her beloved grandfather Ralph Beach. In 1955, Hope moved from Attleboro to Calais with her mother and four siblings. She graduated from Calais High School in1961 and attended Maine Medical School of Nursing in Portland graduating in1964 as president of her class.   In 1972, Hope began her 25-year career at B.M.H.I (Dorothea Dix) and would become the Director of the Program on Aging.  In July of 1981, she married William Richards enjoying 29 wonderful years together.  After retiring from B.M.H.I in 1997, Hope would become the administrator for Stillwater Health Care followed by Director of Hampden Meadows group home. In 2008 she would retire from an exemplary 45 year nursing career to care for her husband during a courageous battle with Leukemia. After her husband, Will passed away in 2010, Hope would reconnect with her first husband, Dennis Hurd. He was able to provide the partnership she needed in an overwhelming time of grief.  

Hope was an outstanding seamstress, fabulous cook, and created the most beautiful flower gardens. 

Hope is predeceased by her dearly loved mom, husband Will, and brother, Charles Draper.  She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Higgins and her spouse Timothy Gray of Milton, FL; her son, Andrew Hurd and his spouse, Maggie of Westbrook; her son, Stanley Richards of Columbia, CT, her daughter, Sarah Meshanic and  spouse Peter of Columbia, CT; her son, Josh Richards and spouse Carol West of Hartford CT; her brother, Ralph Draper of Nottingham NH, sisters, Carol Rosenberg of Brewer and Cynthia Sarjeant of Bangor; nine grandsons, Zach, Noah and Dustyn Gray, Patrick and Brandon Hurd, Jackson, Hunter and Carter Meshanic and Tyler Richards; eight great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Ginney Towle and niece, Elise Snow of Salem MA; many more nieces and nephews. Honorable mention to her dedicated friends Marguerite, Emma, Sharon, Sandy, Pam, Jill, and Lisa.  

Special thanks to our aunts, Cynthia and Carol, for your excellent care of our mom when we were unable to be with her. Thank you to the staff at Westgate Center for the outstanding care provided. 

Details regarding a springtime celebration of life will be announced later. Messages and memories may be shared with her family on the tribute wall of kileyandfoley.com.