Barbara Jean Hoag

Born Barbara Jean Duffy on November 28, 1929 to John and Bernice Duffy, she grew up in Oakland, California. She was always proud that, as a teenager, she had been selected to work at I. Magnin & Company in San Francisco, then a prestigious high fashion and specialty goods luxury department store. She became their youngest employee to manage new accounts for the Bay Area.Barbara married Stephen Raymond Hoag, the boy across the street who became her life-long sweetheart, on August 20, 1949 and immediately began raising up a family. Barbara was fiercely devoted to Ray until his passing in 2016. Over the years, Barbara and Ray raised 4 kids: David, Michael (RIP), Susan, and Deborah. Barbara was a doting grandmother to Jennifer, Wendy, Matthew, Joshua, Katie, Luke, Barbara, Stephen, Joseph, Lilliana, Gabriella, and William. She was especially delighted and proud to be “Oma” (great-grandmother) to Jeffery, Bob, Jonathan, Emma, Max, Emily, and Patrick… with even more great-grandchildren on the way.

While Ray progressed in a career as an aviation electronics engineer, Barbara was busy managing the household and raising 4 children. There were short stays in Oakland, Las Vegas, and San Diego, but Barbara and Ray eventually settled their family in the Orange County, California city of Anaheim where they spent most of their lives.

In the early 1960s, Barbara was active in the TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) organization. She was recognized as a Queen, having set, achieved, and maintained a weight loss goal. She also became the president of the TOPS Orange County chapter.

Barbara and Ray were active members of their Roman Catholic parish of St. Pius V in Buena Park. Together they supported the early, and much needed, church expansion, both financially and with hundreds of hours of volunteer commitments. Barbara served faithfully for many years as president of the Altar Society. Barbara and Ray’s support for their church continued unabated until age and physical infirmities forced them to curtail most of their volunteer efforts. Yet, even then, the parish priests were always a fixture at dinners and celebrations, as Barbara and Ray felt the guest list wasn’t complete unless the priests were invited.

Like most mothers, Barbara had many hero moments. One of her most memorable moments came in 1962. An opportunity arose where she and her 4 children could fly FREE to Europe to join Ray on his 6-year field-service tour in Germany for Lockheed. The only stipulation was… she needed to be on the plane, with her 4 kids, in less than 72 hours! Besides packing up 4 kids, Barbara packed up and shipped an entire household off to storage! In addition, she managed the disposition of the car, the house, insurance, utilities, schools, and hundreds of other details of upending a home and heading off into the unknown. Barbara managed to get herself, and her children on that plane. Though her children were exhausted, confused, and excited all at once, Barbara had convinced them that they weren’t just flying off somewhere to reconnect with their Dad, but that they were embarking on a great once-in-a-lifetime adventure… and they did! Barbara had astounded everyone with her strength and her courage over the course of 3 days. By never losing sight of the dream, by infecting all of her kids with a positive we-can-do-this attitude, and by not giving up, Barbara managed to launch her family out of suburban Southern California, into the unknown, and ultimately on a great adventure in Germany, and throughout much of Europe.

Barbara had a great capacity for caring for others, and always stepped up to the challenge when needed. When her sister Gerri (her only sibling) died, she made room in her household for her nephews John and Jim, niece Diane, and Barbara’s mother, Bernice, as they had no other means of support. It was a time of upheaval for everyone, but through that whole period, Barbara taught those around her an important lesson about caring, compassion, and the importance of family.

Barbara was a consummate hostess, and was not really happy unless she could ply you with food and drink. She was a loyal friend who you could always count on. Those she loved, she always saw in the most favorable light. And even if you messed up, she saw you not as you were, but always as you could be.

Barbara, though greatly missed by all, is finally free of pain and physical maladies, and now calls heaven home.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Catholic Charities USA, or to The Society of St. Vincent De Paul. Thank you.