Patricia Kay (AuClaire) Hoffman

Patricia Kay Hoffman, 79, went to be with the Lord on Thursday June 5, 2025, winning her battle with cancer. She passed peacefully at home with her family by her side.

Pat was born in Detroit to Theodore and Madeline (Palmer) AuClaire on September 15,1945. She graduated from Petoskey St. Francis High School in 1963 and went on to earn a BS in Education from the University of Michigan. Briefly she taught at Thunder Bay Junior High School in Alpena, MI, and then spent the remainder of her career teaching English Literature and Speech at Petoskey Public Schools for thirty years. 

On September 19, 1969, she married her high school sweetheart, Fred J Hoffman, at St. Francis church in Petoskey, where they made their home for the next 56 years. Family was the highlight of her life.

Pat was an active parishioner of Saint Francis Xavier Church serving as a Eucharistic minister at the hospital, assisting with bible study at the jail, and volunteering at the women's homeless shelter. Fred and she were also devoted to Teams of Our Lady, an organization that enriched their marriage and inspired one another through their living examples of faith. Her faith and love of the church illuminated in every aspect of her life.

Pat and Fred shared their love of outdoor activity with cross-country ski racing (where they were always 3rd in their age group) and hiking the North Country Trail from south of Traverse City to Marquette (done in sections, not all at once). After retiring from teaching in 1998, she continued to enjoy kayaking, reading, and running. She especially loved spending winters in Arizona where they hiked and connected with good friends and extended family.

Following the untimely death of her sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Richard Yentz, Pat and Fred permanently welcomed their nephews Hans and Karl Yentz into their home. They lovingly cared for and raised their nephews as if they were their own children.

She is preceded in death by her parents Ted and Madeleine AuClaire, in-laws Fred and Mary Hoffman, daughter Emily Marie Hoffman, sons Hans Yentz, Karl Yentz, grandson Erik Yentz, brother Theodore AuClaire, and sister Marie and brother-in-law Richard Yentz.

Pat is survived by her husband Fred Hoffman, son Daniel (Lindsey) Hoffman, daughters-in-law Susan Yentz and Susan Day, grandchildren Max and Ben Yentz, Harper and Nolan Hoffman, as well as a large and loving extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

In lieu of flowers please consider honoring Pat by making a donation to either St. Michael High School or St. Francis Xavier Schools. 

There will be a Memorial Mass at St. Frances Xavier Church on June 19, 2025 at 10:30AM. Visitation will take place one hour prior. 
Father Dennis Stilwell will officiate.

Arrangements are in care of Stone Funeral Home.

“Gladly would she learn and gladly would she teach” Geoffrey Chaucer

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