Frances Caroline Hoffman

April 17, 1912 – February 26, 2013

Frances Caroline Hoffman (Fritz) was born April 17, 2013 in Council Grove, Kansas and passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at her home in Auburn, CA. As a child she preferred to play with her brother Ralph than with her two older sisters being the fourth of eleven children of Henry and Anna Holscher who gave her the nickname Fritz. She was very much the tomboy and a champion basketball player at only 5’ tall but developed into a feminine young lady and married Francis Hoffman in November of 1934 and remained his wife for 67 years until his death in 2002. The family moved to Westwood, Lassen County, CA in 1941. She always put her family first as a stay at home mom. She was a good cook and canned fruits and vegetables. She was an excellent baker, pies being her specialty. She sewed clothing for the whole family and gave haircuts to everyone. She won a life time achievement award from the Parent and Teachers Association (PTA) for all the time she volunteered and the leadership positions she held. She was Den Mother to many young boys of the Boy Scouts. She belonged to the Altar Society of Our Lady of the Snow Catholic Church which made sure the church and linens were always clean and helped lead and organize fund raisers.

After moving to Auburn in 1956 and her youngest was twelve years old, she began work as a nurse at Placer County Hospital until her retirement in 1972. Many women in and around the Auburn remember her to this day as the nurse who helped to deliver their babies.

Annie Oakley didn’t have a thing on this woman who could ride a horse, out shoot, and out fish all the men in the family. She loved camping and took many long hunting trips to Colorado. Her most memorable vacation was a month long road trip she and her husband took to Alaska with her brother and his wife in their motor home.

She enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and traveling. She was always cooking and baking and in her free time she sewed, crocheted, gardened, and enjoyed family activities.

She was awarded the Life Time Achievement Award from PTA; Cub Scout Den Mother; Altar Society member and remained active and vital until her death.

Preceded in death by her husband, Francis B. Hoffman (married 67 years), her son James Francis Hoffman and her grandson Robert Fluharty.

She is survived by sons Thomas Hoffman of Auburn and Larry Hoffman of Clarkston, WA and daughter Mary Ann Hoffman of Lewiston, ID. Brothers Robert Holscher of Lake Almanor, CA and Lawrence Holscher of Pittville, CA and sister Dorothy Miley of Paradise, CA. She delighted in her twelve grandchildren Jay Hoffman of Plummer, ID, Joleen Magers of Clarkston, ID, Kurt Hoffman of Rathdrum, ID, Russell Hoffman of Wenatchee, WA, Brent Hoffman of Manchester, TN, Paul Hoffman of Atlanta, GA, Daniel Hoffman of Steamboat Springs, CO, Diane Cross of Seattle, WA, Brian Hoffman of Applegate, CA, Kevin Hoffman of Meadow Vista, CA, Michelle O’Callaghan of Lewiston, ID, and Robert Fluharty (deceased); fourteen great grandchildren Alecia Hoffman of Clarkston, WA, Justin Hoffman of Farmington, WA, Rachael Jones of Clarkston, WA, Jason Hoffman of Alaska, Jimmy Hoffman of Rathdrum, ID, Jenna Hoffman of Rathdrum, ID, Mitchell Hoffman of Wenatchee, WA, Keil Hoffman of Wenatchee, WA, Noah Hoffman of Atlanta, GA, Logan Hoffman of Atlanta, GA, Lola Hoffman of Meadow Vista, CA, Stefani Wood of Clarkston, WA, Amanda Seidel of Clarkston, WA, Samuel NesSmith of Lewiston, ID; and three great-great grandchildren Gavin Rosen Wood of Clarkston, WA, Avary Wood of Clarkston, WA, and Jaelie Hoffman.

A Rosary service will be at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church on Atwood Road, Auburn, CA at 7PM on Sunday evening, March 3. A funeral mass will be held Monday, March 4 at 10:00 AM also at St. Theresa’s.

Please sign the online guestbook.