Rene HOFFMAN

Doris Rene HoffmanSeptember 6, 1925 – October 30, 2012It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mum, grandma & great grandma Rene Hoffman.  Mum passed on in Ty Watson House Tuesday, October 30th with her loving family by her side after a short courageous battle with cancer.  Rene was predeceased by her parents; siblings Minnie, Norman, George, Jean and Dave; her first husband Thomas Robert William Sloan; her second husband Dudley Williams; and in 2006 by her daughter Sandra Rieder.She is survived by Ben Hoffman, her husband of 30 years:  children Sherrin (George) Perrouault, Rick Sloan, Shirley Sloan (Moira), Rod (Joanne) Sloan, Sheila Sloan, Shelly Sloan (Stephen Woodthorpe).Grandchildren: Teara Ashby, Ryan (Charity) Ashby, Shawna Sloan, Randy (Julia) Sloan, Montica Lesperance, Melanie Kowaluk (Joost), Chris Rieder, Debbie Rieder (Steve Brown), Jason Blackburn, Jerrid (Susan) Blackburn, Cara Blackburn (Steph), Jody & Brandy Houghton (Ben Swanson).Great grandchildren:  Makayla & Marissa Ashby, Sean, Liam, Wyatt Sloan, Kasia & Melia Lesperance, Ethan & Hunter Brown, Joey Blackburn, Ayla, Adda,& Anya Blackburn, Emily & Riley Swanson, Raelyn & Bryden McDonald.Also survived by her sister Edith Hooper and two close nieces Marg Challenger & Jeanette DeBiase.Rene was born in Baldur, Manitoba to John & Margaret (Connibar) Cramer where she was raised on the farm with her six siblings.  She went out to work at the age of 13 when her father passed away.  By the age of 19 she had met and married Bob Sloan and moved to his parents’ farm in Cypress River, MB where they started their family.  When their first two children were 1 and 3 years old the farm was sold and they all moved by train to Port Alberni to find work in the mill.  Bob & Rene soon found a home to rent on 14th Avenue N and in a short time built a home across the street.  There their family grew to 7 children.  In later years Rene and her two youngest daughters moved to California where she married Dudley Williams and worked with him in his dry cleaning business.  When he passed away she moved back to Port Alberni.  In August 1982 she and Ben Hoffman were married.  They lived in Port Alberni for a short time then built a home on Hornby Island where they spent 15 wonderful years.  After 10 years in Qualicum Bay they finally relocated back to Port Alberni.Rene was a loving and hard working mother to her 7 children, a wonderful grandmother to 13, and great grandmother to 16 and every one of us has our own personal afghan made by her.  She was a real matriarch to the family and will be greatly missed.The family would like to thank Dr. Feyi and the staff at WCGH and Ty Watson House for MUM’s care.Funeral Service will be held at Yates Funeral Chapel, 4470 Gertrude Street, Port Alberni, BC on Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 at 1:00 PM.  A reception to follow at Yates Funeral Chapel.In lieu of flowers, donations in Rene’s memory may be made to the Ty Watson House, or charity of your choice.