Esperanza (Hope) Soto Oddonetto, 88, of Globe, passed away on July 2, 2023 peacefully in her home. Hope was born July 28, 1934, in Chihuahua City, Mexico to mother Maria Soto. She was raised by her grandparents, Angel & Maria Soto, until the age of six on their ranch outside of the city and was especially close to her favorite aunts Amelia and Cuca. She then moved to attend school and to live with her mother, brother Gonzalo and sister Consuelo in the city.
At age 18, Hope moved to Eugene, Oregon to attend cosmetology school. Until graduating from school, she worked several jobs harvesting at local farms. In Eugene, she met her dear friend Pansy, who taught her how to bake, can and cook amazing traditional American food.
When her asthma became too much, Hope moved to Parker, Az. where she opened a restaurant. She was well known for her delicious authentic Mexican food, as well as the pies and down-home cooking that she learned from Pansy.
Hope missed the cool weather and green pines of Oregon, so she started exploring Arizona and discovered the White Mountains of Pinetop. With a loan from fellow entrepreneur Mrs. Maxwell of the Maxwell House and Paint Pony, she built one of the very first full-service salons – Hope’s House of Beauty - on the mountain in Wagon Wheel, between Show Low and Lakeside. As her business grew, Hope built a larger salon to accommodate more staff. Her customers and staff were family to her, with weekly evenings out to Charlie Clark’s and family-style barbeques. She loved to share stories of their trips to ‘the city’ for fabulous hair shows, with live entertainment from groups like the Supremes.
In 1973, when Hope was visiting her close friend Nettie at her restaurant the Steakhouse in Globe, she met the love of her life John Oddonetto. They married in 1974 and together had daughter Linda and son John.
Hope and John enjoyed many years of Saturday nights out dancing with close friends at the Sunset, Elk’s Club, VFW, and American Legion. They enjoyed traveling with these friends – including the Blancos, Joneses, Holders, Corsos, and Whites - to Prescott for the Fourth of July horse racing and festivities.
As a family, they enjoyed quail and dove hunting, camping, boating, fishing, and summers at the ‘Little House’ in Wagon Wheel. Later, they loved traveling with the kids to the beaches of California and Florida, Mexico, Canada, Australia, and an epic road trip up the Pacific Coast highway to Seattle. As a couple they were able to take their dream trips to the Caribbean, St. Martin being their favorite island, and to Italy.
Hope was an avid and highly competitive bowler; having participated in a league for over 50 continuous years, she was very proud to receive her 50-year pin! She was also an accomplished water skier. After the kids were in middle school, Hope opened and operated a salon in Globe for about 15 years, again enjoying many close friendships with her clients and operators. She also volunteered her hair services for many years at the Gila General Hospital Long Term Care Unit.
Upon ‘retiring’ again, she discovered a love for art, taking classes for many years from her favorite teacher Mr. Brown at Gila Pueblo. She was especially talented when it came to landscapes and wildlife portraits.
Hope was a baseball fan to her core! She loved to share childhood stories of her being the only girl on the team – outrunning and outhitting all the boys, and being the best pitcher. When cable TV came to Globe and she could watch the Cubs and the Braves, she never missed a game! Then when Arizona got the D-backs, Hope was their biggest fan.
Hope had a rare zest and love for life that those who knew and loved her will remember her for. She was always ready for a spur of the moment vacation, party, or trip to the casino – any casino. She’ll also be remembered for her amazing family dinners, cooking for her kids when visiting at their colleges, and making tamales, buenelos, and menudo for her annual New Year’s Day open house party.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband John, grandparents Angel & Maria Soto, infant daughter Sylvia, mother Maria Soto, and sister Chelo Wright.
Hope is survived by who she considered her greatest blessings: daughter Linda (Rich) and grandchildren Greyson and Mia; son John (Allie) and grandchildren Dominic, Benny, Anna, and Laura Hope; brother Chalo (Lili) and many cherished nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Hope’s life; services will be held at Holy Angels Catholic Church on Saturday, July 22, with the Rosary at 10 a.m., Mass at 10:30 a.m., and a lunch reception to follow at the church hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider donating to the United Fund of Globe-Miami, PO Box 2160, Globe AZ 85502.
