Dorothy S. Hoffman
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Dorothy S. Hoffman, 81, formerly of Biglerville, died August 15 at Masconoment Healthcare Center in Topsfield, MA. She was born September 19, 1929 in Hanover, the daughter of Horace J. Stine and Irma (Humbert) Stine.
Dottie graduated from Eichelberger High School, Hanover, in 1947. After graduation, she worked for C.N. Parr, Public Accountant. On January 10, 1949 she eloped with Francis Hoffman, Jr. in Thurmont, MD. She and Frank lived in Gettysburg, Pottsville and Hanover, before settling in Coatesville in July 1950. She enjoyed her time in Chester Co., where all three of her children were born.
Dottie served as secretary of the King's Highway Elementary School PTA and was very active in their fundraisers. She was also secretary of the Junior Century Club of Coatesville. The family moved to Wilmington, DE in 1963 and in 1965 moved to Newark, DE. In 1970, Dottie and a business partner opened "Poodle Chateau," a very successful dog grooming shop in Newark. The business was sold in 1976 and she moved back to Pennsylvania to be near her widowed mother. Unfortunately, her mother passed away four months later.
She worked as a bookkeeper for Zerfing's Hardware in Gettysburg for 12 years. In 1988, she accepted employment with T.E.M., Inc., also in Gettysburg, as a computer operator until her retirement in 1997. In December 2010, she moved to Ipswich, MA to reside with her daughter Carol.
The greatest joys and pleasures of her life were her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also loved gardening, knitting and working on family genealogy. She was proud to have traced her Stine heritage to Johann Friedrich Stein, who came to America in 1777 from Nordhausen, Germany. She was an avid fan of crossword and sudoku puzzles. In 1996 she had a dream fulfilled by traveling to Salzburg, Austria. Reading Nicholas Sparks books provided enjoyment during her time in the nursing home.
She was preceded in death by her companion of 24 years Charles E. Kranias, who died in 2008, and her former husband Francis Hoffman in 1979.
She is survived by: daughter Patti and her husband Dan Farrell of Allentown; daughter Carol and her husband David Conway of Ipswich, MA; son Frank Hoffman of Chicago; grandson Andrew Halton of Bethlehem; granddaughter Mariah (Green), her husband Doug Goodall and their children Douglas and Ava of Chestertown, MD; granddaughter Rachel (Halton), her husband Nate Guilfoyle and their son Ryan of Columbia, MD; and grandsons Luke and Jared Conway of Ipswich, MA. Also surviving: brothers Marvin Stine of York and Fred Stine of Hanover; Ernest Kranias and wife Linda of Gettysburg; and Richard Kranias, wife Susan and their children Sophia and Nicholas of Kensington, MD.
Services will be held Tuesday, August 23, at 11:00 a.m. at Upper Octorara Presbyterian Church, 1121 Octorara Trail, Parkesburg, PA. The Rev. Peter Kuhn of Gettysburg Hospital will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Resident Council Fund, Masconomet Healthcare Center, 123 High Street, Topsfield, MA 101938-1926. She loved the activities there.
Condolences
My deepest sympathy to the
My deepest sympathy to the Hoffman family in this time of sorrow. I pray that the Lord receives Dottie in heaven with warm and tender arms and comforts her survivors here on earth with the peace that passes all understanding.
Sending a gentle hug your way
Sending a gentle hug your way to comfort you and to let you know that you're on my mind and in my heart today and always. It was my pleasure caring fro such a beautiful lady. She will be truly missed. Diane Dubiel, RN Masconomet Nursing Home
What a Wonderful Lady!
I only knew Dorothy for a short time, after she moved to Massachusetts. I liked her the very first time I met her! Thank you for sharing the wonderful synopsis of Dorothy's life here in this obituary so that I could know even more about her.
I felt blessed to have known her, if even for a short time. I can only imagine how blessed others must have felt by her laughter, warmth, and kindness. I saw Dorothy battle some rough times with humor, courage and determination and this deepened my respect for a woman who I already liked.
Excerpts from one of my favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson remind me of Dorothy, so I though I would share them:
"To laugh often and much;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to be a success."
Dorothy, you were indeed a success by all of these measures!
My sincere condolences to all Dorothy's family and friends, whose lives she enriched in many ways and who will miss her dearly.
Grat memories
Dear Frank, Carol and Patty,
I am saddened to hear of Dottie's passing. I am so grateful that Mom, Mario and I were able to get together with Frank and Dottie about a year and a half ago. We had such a wonderful day. The memories of family times in the past are embedded well within me. You have such great memories to cherish of Dottie. Hold on to them dearly. My thoughts and prayers are will all of you. Again, I am so glad to have seen you and reconnect. My best to all.....Peter M. DiMaio, Thorndale, PA 19372
Our Heartfelt Sympathy
We are so sorry to learn of Dot's passing. There is no way to lessen the sorrow of losing someone so precious, but please know that we care very much and wish all of you strength and comfort at this sad time.
condolence
long time friend and classmate. always enjoyed Cookie's company. GOD bless and be with you,
Dotty
Dear Carol, Frank and Patty, and all family members,
I cannot begin to tell you how much I admired and liked Dot. Such a warm , generous, loving, and funny person! She taught me the true reason for a morning cup of coffee and the Readers Digest....I have so many good memories of her, from the house on Bisbee, to the house in Gettysburg, she was always "One of the girls". In my mind, she will always be one of the girls, with her joyous, boisterous laugh, truly enjoying herself, and those around her. I always felt like she was a "kindred Spirit". How lucky you were to have her for a mother, grandmother, and now GREAT grandmother. And how lucky was she to have all of you in her life. She always made me feel so welcome, and that I will never forget her. The inner strength that she always had to survive the trials of life, lives on in all of you. I wish that Jackie could have met her, but I will tell her some of the stories, so she will know. See you all tomorrow, and take good care of yourselves right now.
Room 221 will never be the same
Everytime I walk by Room 221, a tear comes to eye. Its not the same without Dottie. She was such a joy to have, everyone-absolutely everyone loved her. I certainly know I did, and still do. August 15th is a day that will forever be remembered in my mind. She was so much more than just another patient to me. She was almost like a grandmother. I miss Dottie very much. I am blessed with the comfort of knowing I made her fear of making the trip to heaven alone go away. I am blessed to know that I was the last person she spoke to on Earth. I am blessed to know that I was there to hold her hand the whole time, and comfort her. I am blessed to know that Dottie is not in pain anymore. I miss her like there is no tommrow. To the moon and back.
My condolences to Patti, Carol, and Frank. I guess God just needed another extraordinary angel <3 Forever in our Hearts.
-Jennifer Lynch, CNA-Masconomet Healthcare Center
My sympathy to the family.
I am the sister of Nancy Grindrod, Dottie's "Twinny". They were dear friends for a lifetime and now are at peace. Nancy would be inconsolable.
Such a great lady!
Dearest Frank, and family,
I will never forget how Dottie opened her heart and home to me. She was a delight. I loved coming to her home for great home-cooked German meals. I was so saddened and shocked to hear of her passing. Dottie was a select person in my mind whom would live forever. I could never think about her ailing and leaving us.
As Frank said, she is now in peace. It is a comfort to know she will no longer have breathing problems.Dottie was an example of how to live, love and laugh. She will never be forgotten.
God Bless you all.
Love, Lynn