Dorothy S. Hoffman

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.

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Dorothy S. Hoffman

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