Margery E. Hoffman

Margery E. Hoffman, 92, passed into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 23, 2025. At the time of her death, she was being lovingly cared for at The Wells House in Johnstown, New York.

Margery was born in Albany, New York, on May 9th, 1933, to George Whitbeck and Helen Read Whitbeck. Her family later moved to Delmar, where she graduated from Bethlehem Central High School. She later graduated from New York State College for Teachers.

In 1955, Margery married the love of her life and her best friend, Alan C. Hoffman. They moved to Michigan so that Alan could complete his degree from Michigan State University. While there, they had their first child, Arden. After graduation, they moved back to New York State, and two more children arrived: Alice and Christopher.

Margery was always available to others, with her winning, welcoming smile and good advice. No matter where she lived, people always remarked on her smile! She made people feel as though they were the only person on earth. This was her superpower! Jesus was her guiding light, and her huge study Bible was the source of her wisdom. A common memory among the grandchildren is coming down from a good night’s sleep at Bamma and Papa’s and seeing their Bamma sitting in the breakfast nook with her trusty bible. That Bible is currently underlined and highlighted more than it is not! We could not keep up with her social nature! She loved playing rummy with her longtime caregiver, Christine, and with Dean and with her son, Chris. She wasn’t a good loser, so she won a lot. She always loved a good puzzle friend like Alice or Dean. She was known in our family as “The Socially Insatiable Senior Citizen.”

She was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Alan C. Hoffman, and her granddaughter, Bethany Arden. Margery is survived by Arden (Dean) Detweiler of Broadalbin, New York, Alice (Paul) Parker of Bethlehem, and Christopher (Mini) Hoffman of Duncan, South Carolina. She has eleven grandchildren: Alissa, Nathan, Laura, Sam, Susie Margery, Breanna, Paul, Maria, Nick, and Joshua Alan. Her great-grandchildren include: Liam and Juliana, Olivia, Elias, Cohen and Naomi, Charlotte, Audrey, Dean, and Adair (expecting twins in March); Asher, Ezekiel, and Kalaiyarasi; Saffron, Juniper Alice, and Lucy; Natalie, Caleb, and Nathan; Jack, Charlotte, and Madeline; Juliet and Ethan; Dillon, Brayden, and Cecelia. She also had many beloved nieces and nephews.

Margery was the self-appointed queen of the family, and she will be sorely missed.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at King’s Chapel Church, 440 Rte. 9W Glenmont, NY 12077. The family will receive visitors at the church from 9:30 to 11:00 am before the service. 

Interment will be in Bethlehem Cemetery, Delmar.