Joyce L. Hoffman

Mom got the call some time ago, but she finally answered on Wednesday.  She maybe should have answered a bit sooner, but a lot of us are just a little better off for the extra time with her.  She was selfless like that.  She loved her old gig, carrying mail, baking cakes, and keeping her boys out of jail.  And she was pretty good at it.  She created bright white light in this world through generosity, and toughness, and humor, and love, from starting conditions that might easily have produced a far less wonderful outcome.  She was the coolest Mom ever.  All of our friends said so, and they wouldn’t lie about this.  Full disclosure, however:  not all of their Mom’s succeeded in the jail-avoidance thing.  Our Mom was successful.  And yes, cool.    

The new gig is way better.  She is beautiful again.  Dancing and singing (somehow still way off key) to Dad’s old school country guitar, and laughing with Marion in a language that you only think you understand.  The snowmen are plentiful, the Christmas records don’t skip, the boys don’t fist fight in the kitchen, and the pumpkins aren’t stolen from the neighbors’ porch.  Nah.  The pumpkins are definitely being stolen.    

We have a job too:  celebrate a good life well lived.  We are blessed to have known her, to have loved her, and to have been loved by her.  Eat the cake.  The homemade oatmeal cake with the coconut dressing.  Have seconds.  No calories today. 

Joyce was born in Elizabethville, November 1, 1943, a daughter of the late Franklin and Alveena Bixler Smeltz. She was a graduate of Upper Dauphin Area High School.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, 1999; two sisters, Anna Miller and June Miller.

Surviving are her four sons, Bill Hoffman, Jr., and his wife Helen, California, John Hoffman and his wife Stephanie, Lebanon, Rob Hoffman and his wife Elizabeth, Tower City, and Mark Hoffman and his wife Angel, Tower City; a sister, Marilyn Shade and husband Richard, Elizabethville, and a brother Richard "Bud" Smeltz and his wife June, Connecticut; eleven grandchildren, Kaysee, Gabby, Garrett, Jack, Bill, Gracie, Samantha, Susie, Robbie, Hank and Jake.

Family and friends are invited to attend graveside services on Monday, January 15, 2023 at 2:00 pm from the Greenwood Cemetery, Tower City with Pastor Annette Shutt officiating. A time of fellowship and luncheon will follow the service at 2:30 pm at the Tower City American Legion.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce's memory can be made to the Porter-Tower Recreation Committee, PO Box 32, Tower City, PA 17980.

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