Mary Jo Hoffman

When reflecting on the life of Mary Jo Hoffman, it is easy to see the simple joy she had for living. She could find joy in even the simplest of things, and her zest for life was contagious to all who were near. Mary Jo was deeply devoted to her family, and she was so proud to witness her family tree blossom to include the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren she adored. She was friendly, outgoing, and gracious, and she was the sort of person who never met a stranger. Life will never be the same without Mary Jo here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps. During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as WWII was gaining momentum. Although the United States was neutral at the time, that would drastically change with the vicious attack on our naval base in Pearl Harbor in 1941. During this pivotal time in our nations history was a time of great anticipation in the lives of Bernard and Blanche (Finnerty) Pung as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as April dawned in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, in 1940. The big day finally arrived when the baby girl they named Mary Jo drew her first breath on April 23rd. She was the oldest of seven children as she was raised in the family home alongside of her siblings, William, Jeanette, Wendell, Bernadette, Michael, and Catherine. In many ways Mary Jo was a young girl of her generation. She and her siblings loved when their mother would take them to go berry picking in the woods. They packed a picnic lunch and took a gallon of water along with them. Mary Jo attended local schools, including Beal City High School. She was popular among her peers, and she was voted homecoming queen. Mary Jo went on to graduate from high school in 1958. New and exciting changes were in store for Mary Jo when she met the man of her dreams. His name was Thomas Hoffman, and sparks flew right from the start. It didn't take them long after meeting to find themselves deeply in love. With the desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Mary Jo and Thomas were married on November 21, 1959, at St. Philomena Catholic Church in Beal City. Together they welcomed four children including Jan, Dotty, Barb, and Marty into their hearts and home. Mary Jo was deeply devoted to her family, and her love for her children was easy to see. In addition to caring for her family, she worked as a clerk in the registrars office at Central Michigan University for over 30 years until retiring in 2003. Later on, Mary Jo was thrilled to become a grandmother, and it was easy to see that her 10 grandchildren were the light of her life. She once said that if she could choose a theme song for her life it would be Tiny Bubbles by Don Ho as one of her favorite pastimes was blowing bubbles while sitting in a chair on her front porch. Mary Jo truly enjoyed seeing the joy on her grandchildrens faces as they chased and popped the bubbles she blew. Her husband recalled sitting on his swing in the backyard and seeing bubbles drifting up above the roofline of the house, always a sign that she was enjoying one of her favorite hobbies. Throughout her life Mary Jo was a woman of many interests. She loved spending time with her family more than anything else, and she made sure that no one ever left her house hungry. Mary Jo loved listening to country music and even met her husband at a dance. As her husband and children can attest, she was known to sing and dance around in her kitchen. She crocheted afghans for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and they have become such priceless keepsakes. In addition to the afghans, she would crochet ends on kitchen towels and give them away to family and friends at Christmas time for many years. Everyone looked forward to getting those. Mary Jo was famous for her Swedish tea rings. In fact, she ended up taking orders for them because they were so delicious! Outgoing and gracious, Mary Jo never met a stranger and was a great conversationalist who could talk to anyone. She was an amazing bargain hunter who was always on the lookout for an amazing treasure. All who knew Mary Jo Hoffman would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was so loving and giving with a spirit of compassion that blessed so many others in her path. Mary Jo viewed being a wife and mother as her highest calling, but she may just have argued that nothing was better than becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother later in life. Although she will be deeply missed, Mary Jo leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts. Mary Jo Hoffman, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Friday, December 7, 2018, at MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland. Mary Jos family includes her four children, Jan (Marty) Hines of Mt. Pleasant, Dotty (Tom) Zammit of Overland Park, KS, Barb (Tim) Murphy of Mt. Pleasant, and Marty Hoffman of Mt. Pleasant; 10 grandchildren: Raechel, Renae, and Ryleigh Hines, Jenni (Jeffrey) Valentino, Chris (Lindsay) Zammit, Kaitlin (Joe) Clark, and Morgan (Chris) Waggoner, Kyle Murphy, Danni (Brett) Harris, and Nicky Murphy; five great grandchildren, Brian, Lydia, Molly, Margot, and Jack; five siblings, Jeanette (Dale) Gatehouse of Lake Isabella, Wendell (Bonnie) Pung of DeWitt, Bernadette (Jonn) Bland of Mt. Pleasant, Michael (Loretta) Pung of Mt. Pleasant, and Cathy McConkie of Shepherd; in-laws, Beverly Pung of Beal City, Robert Hoffman (Dawn) of St. Louis, Alex Hoffman and Ron (Pat) Hoffman of Winn, Ed Recker of Mt. Pleasant, and Clara Hoffman of Mt. Pleasant; and many extended family members. Mary Jo was preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Blanche Pung; husband, Thomas Hoffman; brother; William Pung; and in-laws, Ed Hoffman, Doris Allen, Jane Poag, and Teresa Recker. A Funeral Mass for Mary Jo will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 11, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Beal City with Father Thomas Held as celebrant and Deacon Larry Fussman assisting. Interment will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. A luncheon will conclude at the Beal City Knights of Columbus Hall. The family will receive friends in the gathering room of the church on Monday from 3:00-7:30 p.m. with the Vigil beginning at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Deerfield Township Fire Department or St. Joseph Church. Envelopes will be available at the church or Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home.