Sally Anne Hoffmann Plante

June 25, 1918 - July 28, 2008
ST. JOSEPH - Sally Anne Hoffmann Plante, 90, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, July 28, 2008, at Caretel Inns in St. Joseph. Sally was born June 25, 1918, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sally is survived by her husband, Robert F. Plante of St. Joseph; her son, Stephen H. (Judith) Hoffmann of South Bend, Indiana; her daughter, Melissa D. Hoffmann of Franklinton, North Carolina; her stepson, Daniel R. (Margaret) Plante of Glenview, Illinois; her stepdaughter, Norah P. (Brian) Satre of Batavia, Illinois; seven grandchildren (M. Scott Sedam, Owen Satre, Anne Satre, Michael Plante, Livia Satre, Madeleine Plante and Mary Grace Plante); and her niece, Nancy Dickinson Brown of Woodstock, Connecticut, and her children. Sally was preceded in death by her parents James and Ruth Peaslee; daughters, Catherine and Elizabeth, and after 51 years of marriage her first husband, Edward Hempstead Hoffmann, who died on August 23, 1991. Sally remarried in 1995 when she was 78 and Robert was 73. She and Robert were able to travel, to laugh, and to enjoy life and each other's company for almost 13 years. Sally was an accomplished gardener who contributed to the design and maintenance of several community parks, and found great joy in perfecting the landscaping surrounding her homes. She was a lifetime member of the Indian Hills Garden Club and was one of its earliest members. Sally loved St. Joseph, was a committed member of the community, and served on the boards of many organizations. Long before raising environmental concerns was the vogue, Sally spearheaded efforts 50 years ago to preserve the Jean Klock Park Dunes for future generations. She was an early supporter of the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, the North Berrien Historical Society, was a lifetime member of the Women's Service League, the Sarrett Nature Center and the Krasl Art Center. Sally was a member of the Berrien Hills Country Club and the Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club. She loved Friday nights at the St. Joseph Yacht Club and attending performances at the Mendel Center. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. today and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, with a prayer service to be held at 6 p.m. today during the visitation in Starks and Menchinger, 2650 Niles Road in St. Joseph. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church Street in St. Joseph, on Thursday, July 31, at 2:00 p.m., followed by a private burial at Riverview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to the Indian Hills Garden Club, 1225 Lake Boulevard in St. Joseph, or to the Maud Preston Palenkse Memorial Library, 500 Market Street in St. Joseph.