MARY ELIZABETH HOFFMAN Obituary

SUN CITY, Ariz. - Mary Elizabeth Hoffman, 83, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, at the Home of Loving Hands in Glendale, Ariz., of natural causes.

A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Hillcrest Lawn Chapel in Great Falls with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Entombment will follow at the Hillcrest Mausoleum.

Mary Liz was born June 20, 1920, to Jack and Mae (Sheedy) Hennessy in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. When she was 9, she moved with her family to Conrad, where her father and uncle operated the Hennessy Lumber Co. Mary Liz was raised and educated in Conrad and graduated from Conrad High School. She then attended the University of Montana for a year and transferred to Western Montana College, earning a degree in elementary education. While she was in college she met and became engaged to Jack Hoffman. During their courtship Jack was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to officers training school at Fort Mammouth in New Jersey. They had a long courtship by mail for two years.

Mary Liz taught school in Drummond, and when Jack received his commission they were married in Tampa, Fla. They lived in Tampa for several months before moving to Fresno, Calif. Then he was sent overseas for World War II. During that time Mary Liz lived with her parents in Conrad. After Jack was honorably discharged from the Army, the couple moved to Great Falls. A few years later Mary Liz opened a prekindergarten school that she operated for 20 years. In 1967 Jack was transferred to Cut Bank with Mountain Bell. In September of 1967 Mary Liz opened a prekindergarten school in Cut Bank and operated it for 25 years.

Mary Liz and Jack remained in Cut Bank, snowbirding to Arizona in the winters. They moved permanently to Sun City in 1992.

Mary Liz was a member of St. Gerard's Catholic Church, St. Margaret's Catholic Church, Cut Bank Women's Club, the Hospital Auxiliary and PEO chapter AW. She enjoyed golfing, playing bridge and teaching young children.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Michael and Bernard Hennessy, and one sister, Regina Snell.

Mary Liz is survived by her husband, Jack Hoffman of Sun City; one son, Pat (Karen) Hoffman of Havre; two daughters, Terry Ann (Jerry) Fish of Great Falls, and Mary Kay (Marty) Olson of Cut Bank; a sister, Patsy (Bob) Holmstrom of Billings; and six grandchildren.

Memorials in Mary Liz's honor may be made to the Great Falls Public Library Children's Book Section, 301 Second Ave. N., Great Falls, MT 59401.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home