Cynthia L. Hoffman

Cynthia Lee Harper Hoffman was born on December 25, 1942, to Allen and Mildred Harper in Frederick, Maryland. Her father served our country in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was deployed when she was a baby. She was a three-year-old when he came home, and she did not know who he was. Of course she came to know him, and the family settled into post-war life. Times were hard financially, and because both parents were working, her grandmother raised her, and the two had a special bond. When Cynthia was about six years old, her brother, Allen, was born. She had many happy childhood memories—gathering for family dinners, swimming and sledding, hearing her father read stories, and spending time with loved ones.

The family moved to Lansdale, Pennsylvania, when she was about 10 years old. She learned to play clarinet and participated in her high school marching band. Her first job was in her teen years and involved oversight of children's activities in a summer recreation program. While tending to a young boy's scraped knee, she quipped, "This is going to get better before you get married. Are you getting married tomorrow?" He smiled, and the experience sparked a desire in Cynthia to become a nurse.

After graduating from North Penn High School in Lansdale in 1960, she attended Abington Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Abington, Pennsylvania, completing her diploma program in 1963. During her nursing school years, she met Donald Hoffman at church when he shared his Sunday School book with her. The two were married in 1964.

In 1965, Donald and Cynthia eagerly anticipated the birth of their first daughter, Diane, who tragically passed away at birth. This heartbreak had a profound impact on Cynthia. Daughters Sharon and Susan were born a few years later, and by 1970, Cynthia was heavily burdened inside. She was angry with God for taking her first child yet sensed that her viewpoint was morally wrong. In her words, "I wondered how I was going to raise my two little girls, Sharon and Susan, and teach them right from wrong when I was an evil, wicked, hateful, hell-deserving woman." God sent the answer through a fellow nurse who told Cynthia that Jesus loved her and wanted to forgive her. This friend gave Cynthia a pamphlet with Bible verses about God's gift of salvation. Before she read the pamphlet, she prayed, "Dear God, I don't know if there's anything in this piece of paper that I ought to know, but please let me know tonight!" She learned that God loved her and that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross to pay for her sins, defeated death, and rose back to life. She believed this and asked God to forgive all her sin. He did, and with a changed heart, she became a new person in Christ. Cynthia liked to say that, in 1970, she had two birthdays—one on December 25, when she turned 28, and her favorite birthday on December 31, when she was born again.

Cynthia grew in her understanding of the Bible and taught her daughters about the Lord. Daughter Sandra was born in the mid 1970s. The three girls grew up, and Donald and Cynthia became empty nesters, adding sons-in-law and grandchildren to their growing family.

Cynthia's nursing career included positions at Abington Memorial Hospital, North Penn Hospital, and a local doctor's office. She worked part-time or stayed at home when her children were small. In the 1980s, she returned to the nursing field and was employed by Elm Terrace Gardens and Dock Terrace in Lansdale, from which she retired.

In 2005, Cynthia's husband, Donald, passed away after a short battle with leukemia. His dying wish was that she live with Susan and her husband, Vince. This was carried out and continued for almost 20 years where Cynthia made wonderful memories with Susan's family and received faithful, loving care. All of Cynthia's children and grandchildren treasured Mom/Grandma/Mom-Mom, the loving heart at the center of the family.

Cynthia loved music, especially hymns, and was an artist. She painted landscapes and designed greeting cards to uplift others. She had a heart of compassion that showed both in her nursing career and in her everyday life. She loved to talk with others about the Lord. As a girl, she had wondered, "Why was I born on Jesus' birthday? What special thing does He have for my life because I shared His birthday?" Certainly, part of His plan was for her to shine brightly for Him, and she did just that. She wanted everyone to know the joy and peace she had found in Jesus. She would ask you today, "Do you know my Savior?"

Cynthia rejoiced in the Lord, even as her health declined. On June 25, 2025, at age 82, she went to be with the Savior she loved.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Hoffman; daughter Diane Lee Hoffman; parents, Allen and Mildred Harper; parents-in-law, Jacob and Kathryn Hoffman; and brother-in-law Charles Hoffman. She is survived by her daughters, Sharon (Bob) McKelvey, Susan (Vince) States, and Sandra (Paul) Achterberg; her grandchildren, Leanne (Frank), Laura (Taylor), Joshua, John (Rachel), Joseph, Lydia, Kayla (Markus), Courtney (Micah), Kyle, Sienna, and Keith; great- granddaughter, Finley; her brother, Allen (Jeanne) Harper; her husband's siblings and their spouses, Jean (Ray) Dreger, Bette Hoffman, Nancy (Eric) Pfleiger; her nieces and nephews and their families; extended family; friends; and her church family at Valley View Bible Church in Telford, Pennsylvania.

Visitation and burial will be private. A memorial service to praise the Lord according to Cynthia's wishes will take place on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 2:30 PM at Valley View Bible Church, 315 Barndt Road, Telford, PA 18969.

Arrangements are by Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, Lansdale, PA.