Theresa McGrath Hoffmann

Theresa Cecilia Hoffmann (nee McGrath) passed away quietly in her home on the morning of Friday, November 8th. She had recently celebrated her 96th birthday with her family on October 12th. Tessie, as friends and family knew her, dedicated her life to working for her family whom she loved above all else.

Born close to Labasheeda in County Clare, Ireland, she served as a nurse’s aide in London, before joining her sisters, Agnes and Beatrice, in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1955. She worked days at General Diecasting and evenings at the Indian Hills Country Club, of which she later spoke highly. She married Donald Hoffmann on the 12th of April 1958, and a family of four sons and one daughter shortly followed.

Having had to abridge her own education in order to work abroad, she regarded school as the highest priority for her children and set herself to ensuring that they could read and write before beginning their first classes. Those who knew her well will remember her strong will and indefatigable work ethic.

She became an avid reader of the news in the middle of her life and discussed world events with a strong sense of injustice. But her favorite topic remained her childhood memories of the family farm in Ireland. She told of bicycling long hours to local dances and returning home in the small hours of the morning, only to begin work on the farm at dawn.

Neighborhood children remembered her fondly for her chocolate chip cookies, which she passed out liberally on Friday afternoons. Family and friends will never forget the herculean meals she cooked on holidays, especially her fruit salad and tasty hams. Tessie was known for her generosity, kindness to strangers, and love of animals. One of her favorite pastimes was to listen to the spring birds sing in the backyard, and she frequently recalled various family pets, especially a favorite cat, Sam.

Tessie leaves behind a brother, John Thomas, and sister, Bernie, her husband Donald, sons Michael, Eric, Alan and George, and her daughter Valerie, as well as grandchildren Billie, Shane, and Nicholas. She lost a daughter in birth on Christmas Day on 1967.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 701 East Meyer Boulevard, on Friday, November 15th at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. The Rosary will be prayed at 10:00 a.m. Burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.