Mary Ellen Hoff

Mary Ellen Hoff, nee Sporleder, 79, of Darien, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2026 at her home. Mary was loved as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend.

Mary was born March 2, 1947 in Oak Park, Illinois, to Melvin and Betty (Ryan) Sporleder. She grew up in Lyons, Illinois, as the big sister to brother Jim and best friend to cousin Sue (Becker) Webster. After graduating from Morton West High School, Mary went to work for Shell Oil where she met her future husband, Terry Hoff.

Mary and Terry wed on August 9, 1969 in Lyons, IL. Starting married life in an apartment in Westmont, they raised their sons Rob and Rick in their home on Benton Ave. in Downers Grove. Mary and Terry strove to make their home a welcoming place for family gatherings, especially Thanksgiving. The basement on Benton was always a welcome haven for her sons' friends. In early years, she cherished the constant company of beloved dogs Lucky and Minky. Following Terry's death in 1998, Mary moved to her condo in Darien with the companionship of her cats. She was affectionately nicknamed "Grandma Kitty".

Mary worked at Argonne National Laboratory for more than 20 years as a temp employee working her way to a valued executive assistant. She retired in 2013, with a large circle of friends drawn to her cheery disposition, sense of humor, and generous spirit. Shortly after her retirement, Mary was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. She continued to live an active life for several years until the disease progressed restricting her independence and abilities these last two years. She was a champion to the end supported by her sons and her caregiver, Grace.

After Terry's passing in 1998, Mary filled her life with annual trips to the sandy beaches of Sanibel Island, Florida, and devotion to her grandchildren, Maxwell and Thomas. The boyswill always treasure their many memories of riding bikes around Grandma's driveway, reading books beside her on the couch, helping her feed her cats and decorating for the holidays, laughing themselves silly at her jokes and topping off the days with "Grandma chicken." Even when they went home she held them near - encouraging, entertaining and sometimes even educating them over the phone and by text.

Besides Terry, Mary was preceded in death by her parents Melvin and Betty Sporleder and brother James Sporleder. She is survived by her sons Robert (Lynn) and Richard Hoff, grandsons Maxwell and Thomas Hoff, sister-in-law Cathy Sporleder, niece Ellen Wilde, nephew Kevin Sporleder, cousins, dear friends and her cat Wheezer.

Visitation Friday, March 13, 2026, 9:00am until time of Funeral Service at 11:00am at St. John Lutheran Church, 7214 South Cass Avenue, Darien. Interment Clarendon Hills Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in Darien in Mary's honor.