Margaret Clark Hoffman

Hoffman, Margaret (Clark) EAST GREENBUSH/DELMAR Margaret C. Hoffman, age 95, died Friday, October 3, 2008 in East Greenbush, N.Y. Born and raised in Rensselaer, she was the daughter of the late James and Marguerite McGarry Clark. Mrs. Hoffman was a graduate of St. John's Academy and the College of St. Rose, class of 1936. She worked for the State of New York in the Education Department and the Retirement System, and more recently, for the NYS Thruway Authority, from where she retired in 1976. A resident of Delmar for over 40 years, she moved to her daughter and son-in-law's home in 2002. Since September 2006 she resided at Evergreen Commons in East Greenbush, where she received loving care from the staff of 2 Greenbush and 1 Wynantskill Way. Margaret's faith was very important to her, and she was a communicant for many years at St. Thomas Church in Delmar, St. John the Evangelist Church in Rensselaer, and Holy Spirit Church in East Greenbush. Her generosity of spirit and faith, along with that of her husband Bill, extended overseas in the sponsorship of several priests' seminary education, leading to their ordination. An active participant in the elder care ministry of St. Thomas Parish, Margaret visited parishioners in local nursing homes. In addition, she volunteered as a Red Cross Gray Lady at the VA Hospital in Albany, N.Y. for many years. Margaret was fortunate to share lifelong friendships with "the girls", whose ties strengthened throughout their lives: Peg McMahon, Kate Bailey, Lorraine Mason, and the late Maura Milone, Mary Collins, Noreen Jordan and Eleanor Flavin. She was also an excellent pianist and a cat lover, and leaves behind her beloved kitty, Petey. Margaret was the wife of the late William L. Hoffman Jr.; mother of Rita M. Hoffman of Delmar, Anne H. Cronin (Michael) of East Greenbush and the late Paul W. Hoffman. She was the sister of Harold V., Cornelia H., F. Virginia and James E. Clark, all of whom predeceased her. She was the beloved grandmother of Patrick M. and Kathryn A. Cronin, both of East Greenbush; and the sister-in-law of Mary C. Hoffman of Slinger-lands. The family wishes to thank the compassionate staff at Evergreen Commons as well as Margaret's personal care aides over the years, Linda Muench, Jan Ammerman, the late Sandy Staats and most recently Felicia Kemnitz, who has lovingly cared for mom for the past three and a half years. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. from the W.J. Lyons Funeral Home, Inc., 1700 Washington Ave., Rensselaer, N.Y., thence to St. John the Evangelist Church, Herrick Street, Rensselaer where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow the Mass in Our Lady Help of Christians Cemetery, Glenmont. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Tuesday 4-8 p.m.