Ellen Puhl Hoag

Obituary of Ellen Puhl Hoag

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Our beloved mother, Ellen Puhl Hoag, age 89, died peacefully in hospice at Spring House Estates in Lower Gwynedd, PA on November 29, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with complications related to Peripheral Artery Disease.

Ellen was born on December 1, 1935, in Philadelphia, PA, the daughter of Edward John and Margaret Dennisson (Levering) Puhl. She had an older sister, Nancy Puhl. Ellen and her family lived in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. Ellen graduated from Girls High School with Honors and then continued her education by attaining a Bachelor of Arts degree at Douglass College of Rutgers University.

Ellen married the love of her life, Robert Moore Hoag, on September 3, 1955. At the time of her wedding, Robert was a student at Princeton Theological Seminary and Ellen was a college student. Although Ellen was only 19 years old at the time, she whole-heartedly assumed the role of minister's wife/spiritual partner and continued to proudly partner with Bob when they lived in Edinburgh, Scotland while Bob completed post-graduate theology courses at New College, during Bob's 17 year ministry at Clarks Summit Presbyterian Church in Clarks Summit, PA and during Bob's 14 year ministry at Abington Presbyterian Church in Abington, PA. For many years, Ellen actively participated in the Presbyterian Women's Association and served as President, led Adult Bible Study classes, and sang in the church choir. She was a devoted member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood for 50 years. Anyone who knew Ellen admired her for her emotional steadiness that was grounded in her faith, her kind and compassionate heart, her generosity of her time and energy to help those in need, her humble gratitude for all her blessings, and her beautiful alto singing voice. Her loving and patient daily care for Bob after he suffered a series of disabling strokes over the last seven years of their 57-year marriage was remarkable.

Ellen was also very committed to being a responsible, devoted, and affirming mother to her five children and her grandchildren, all of whom she dearly loved. She rarely raised her voice in anger and always sought to respond to parenting challenges with positive lessons and optimism. Ellen modeled for her children a deep sense of respect for others who came from different cultures or from different life circumstances. She and Bob welcomed into their home high school and college students from the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, Palestine, and Africa through the Rotary International Foreign Exchange program. They also provided food and a temporary place to sleep for people who were homeless or unemployed.

Ellen showed a high level of commitment and devotion to her aging parents in their post-retirement years and spent nearly every day of the week assisting them for the 10 years they lived at Meadowood Senior Life Community. When her older sister Nancy Puhl returned from Belgium to live in Jenkintown, PA, Ellen eagerly welcomed her into her family life and very much enjoyed spending time with her.

After Bob died in 2012, Ellen and Nancy developed a mutually supportive relationship at Spring House Estates where they both lived. They vacationed together; attended Walnut Street theater and various community concerts; worshipped together at Grace Presbyterian Church and later at church services at Spring House; and became active members of the Spring House Chapter of Questers. When one of them was sick, the other was always there to provide support and good cheer. Both were often quick to laugh to the point of tears and both cherished their time with friends. It is no wonder that Ellen and Nancy died within three weeks of the other-they wanted to go Home to be with the Lord and loved ones together.

Ellen is predeceased by her parents, Margaret and Edward Puhl, her sister Anne Florence "Nancy" Puhl, and her husband, the Reverend Robert M. Hoag, She is survived by her five children, Nancy (Bill) Rasweiler, David (Lisa) Hoag, Robert (ChristyAnn) Hoag, Janet (Robert Clevenger) Hoag, and Jonathan (Mary Jane) Hoag; her grandchildren, Alyssa Rasweiler, Kelly Hoag, Ian (Amanda) Rasweiler, Hannah Hoag Lee (Parker), Matthew Quinn, Jessica Hoag, Allison Quinn, and Alexander Hoag; and one great grandson, Cameron Rasweiler.

Ellen's abundant life will be jointly celebrated with the life of her sister Nancy Puhl at a memorial service on Sunday, December 21st at 1 PM at Grace Presbyterian Church located at 444 Old York Road, Jenkintown, PA 19046. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations can be made to one of Ellen's valued organizations, which include Grace Presbyterian Church and the ACTS Legacy Fund (Spring House Estates, 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002).