Mary Savannah Ritter was born in Kantz, PA on Monday, August 23, 1920, the 7th of 10 children of Elmer Roy and Edna Mae Bingaman Ritter. She is preceded in death by her parents and all siblings: William, Grace, Glenn, unnamed baby boy, Robert, Blanche, George, Ruth Anna Faye and Stanley. Mary lived in the Ritter home for 16 years and completed the 8th grade, then was expected to go out and "earn a living", which she did by going to work for the Wirt family in Sunbury PA in the Wirt Family Funeral Home. While there, she was introduced by her sister Grace's husband Al Shaffer, Jr., a barber in Shamokin Dam PA, to a client of his named John Hoffman. A 2-year courtship began almost immediately, and John and Mary married on July 20, 1940. Throughout the course of their married lives, John's work required many moves; they lived in Shamokin Dam, State College, Selinsgrove and Middleburg PA, Champagne-Urbanna IL (with the University of Illinois), East Lansing MI (with Michigan State University), and then retired to Country Meadows community in Plant City FL in 1990. In 2008, they moved up to The Historic Chamberlin on Fort Monroe VA, a beautiful independent living facility at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay on the James River, in order to be closer to their daughters. During their 7 year tenure at The Chamberlin, they made many good friends, and were attended to by a loving and generous staff. Mary was a very determined woman, one not intimidated by taking things on as she got older: She learned how to ride a bike after she turned 45 years old, and became an avid rider; she and her friend Marjorie Michel rode together for years, often making the trek from East Lansing to Mason MI, a 40-mile round trip adventure, with lunch as the mid-point reward. Marjorie's husband Bob called them "The Wide Loads", and created license plates with that nickname, and attached one to each of their bike seats. At the age of 50, she invited her family to come to a ceremony where she was presented with the certificate acknowledging completion of her GED, which her family was unaware she had been pursuing for 2 years. She learned to ice skate in her mid-50s, however during her skating tenure she managed to break both her wrists on 2 separate occasions. She was forced in to retirement from this pastime by her concerned family. Mary was a model hostess, always providing a beautiful and well-appointed setting for whatever the occasion. When the Hoffmans threw an event, Mary created delicious, simple and elegantly-plated meals, concocted ways to decorate by using unusual things from her yard or wherever she found them, and welcomed all who crossed their threshold with an openness and generosity of spirit that allowed them to feel immediately at home. She prepared Sunday dinner each week, a healthful and yummy meal that the family looked forward to after arriving home from church, as well as the many, many celebratory and holiday meals that were enjoyed with family and friends while sitting around their Pennsylvania House dining room set. She baked Christmas cookies for months in advance, delivering dozens of plates of cookies to neighbors and friends during December of each year. Interestingly, John spent a lot of time "working" down in the basement during cookie season, where they were stored! Mary was a creative, artistic and truly giving spirit, as well. She tailored suits for herself and John, and sewed clothing for her children and grandchildren. She made her daughter's wedding and bridesmaid dresses, dresses and other accoutrement for the ElSingers of East Lansing High School, as well as hand-stitched quilts, crocheted blankets, handmade teddy bears and children's clothing for friend's babies, the Lansing Sparrow hospital, and the many Lutheran charities she supported. She taught cooking and sewing for the Girl Scouts, and delivered Mobile Meals for years with various friends, in East Lansing as well as in Plant City. Mary was a typical child of the Great Depression - she knew how to stretch a dollar. She "purchased" numerous household items with S&H Green Stamps, bought things when on sale and often with coupons, and helped fund many of the extra-curricular hobbies of she and her children by squirreling money away from her monthly "allowance" she received for groceries and sundries. She taught her children to always have an emergency fund in their wallets, just in case John and Mary were lifelong members of the Lutheran Church. Mary was involved in Bible study groups, women's fundraising and philanthropic efforts, as well as the many social events that took place throughout the church year. Some of John and Mary's best friends were those they came to know at St. Matthew's Lutheran in Champagne-Urbana, and University Lutheran in East Lansing, and with whom they stayed in touch as long as each was alive. Mary is survived by John William Hoffman, her husband of 75 years (celebrated July 20th of this year!), their three fortunate children: Gary Lee (Judy McCook) Hoffman of Bend OR, Karen Sue Hoffman (Bill Samuelson) of Hampton VA and Jayne Marie Hoffman (Dan Haught) of Waynesboro VA; their five wonderful grandchildren: John Jared (Heidi Wiess-Hoffman ) Hoffman and Todd Weller (Margie Dieter) Hoffman of Bend OR, Della Jayne Hoffman (Matt Rosen) of Washington DC, and Hannah Grace and Frank Vincent Haught of Waynesboro VA; four fabulous great-grand children: Cooper Jacob and Genevieve (Evie) Marie Hoffman of Bend OR, and Savannah Grace Rosen and Everett John William Rosen of Washington DC. Mary and John have numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews and great grand nieces and nephews who live throughout the country. Mary died in the Morningside Assisted Living facility in Newport News on October 20, 2015, where she was provided dedicated and loving care until her last breath. She wanted to be remembered as a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, a good friend to the many she amassed throughout her long life, a faithful servant of her Lord, and a meaningful member of her community. You were all those things and so many, many more, Mary/Mom/Grandma/Great-Grandma. We love you so, and miss you already, but know that you will live on in the hearts and lives of the rest of us forever. A celebration of Mary's life will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home in Hampton, followed by a reception at the family home in Hampton. Contributions in the name of Mary R. Hoffman may be made to the Virginia Peninsula Food Bank in lieu of flowers.