Lillian V. Hoffer
A vivacious woman with a contagious laugh, Lillian was a lover of life who enjoyed spending time with her immediate and extended family, as well as longtime friends who became family .
Mass: Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. from St. Peter Catholic Church, Columbia. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the service.
Lillian V. (Storm) Hoffer, 82, died on May 3, 2021 at Lancaster General Hospital following a complication stemming from chronic heart disease.
Lillian would proudly proclaim to anyone and everyone that she was “born and raised” in Columbia. She was one of eight children of John Storm Sr. and Lillian (Spiese) Storm.
Lillian attended Columbia High School, leaving school prior to graduation to start a family with her first husband, James M. Holtzinger Sr. She is survived by James and three of their children, Cora Rowe, of Wrightsville; John C. Holtzinger, of Wrightsville; and Joel S. Holtzinger, of Springettsbury Township. She was preceded in death by her oldest son, James “Jamie” M. Holtzinger Jr.; her second husband, Lester Eugene Hoffer; her parents; and four of her siblings.
Lillian is also survived by her brothers, Albert Storm, of Columbia; Leo Storm, of Columbia; and Tom Storm, of Georgia; as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
A lifelong, diehard Philadelphia Phillies fan, Lillian loved watching the Fightin’ Phils play – especially when her team won against American League rivals that other family members root for, including the Baltimore Orioles and New York Yankees. Richie Ashburn was her favorite Phillie, with Chase Utley as a close second, largely due to his hand in bringing the World Series championship back to the City of Brotherly Love in 2008.
A vivacious woman with a contagious laugh, Lillian was a lover of life who enjoyed spending time with her immediate and extended family, as well as longtime friends who became family. Lillian met Maryruth Gerfin in the maternity ward of the hospital when the two shared a room. The young mothers remained the best of friends for the more than 50 years that followed.
During her years as a homeowner in Marietta, Lillian, and her husband, Lester, hosted annual family get-togethers to coincide with the locally famous Fourth of July fireworks celebrations in town. After indulging in her homemade whoopie pies, dump salad, and other picnic eats, she and her family would sit out on the lawn and watch the festival of lights in the sky.
To know Lillian was to love her. She was a true and genuine friend to all she met and an advocate for those who were marginalized. She was involved with and supported the Columbia Food Bank.
An anomaly in some regards, Lillian loved butterflies and getting her hair done as much as she loved her Phillies. In her free time, she enjoyed painting ceramics with a group of fellow crafters at Saint Peter Apartments, where she had lived for more than 15 years. She was a parishioner of St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Columbia.
Lillian was an avid reader of books in general and suspense thrillers by authors such as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and John Saul, in particular. She also enjoyed listening to country music, including Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton, and doing crosswords and puzzles in her spare time.
A natural green thumb, her many plants have adorned her windowsills in all her residences.
Lillian retired from R&S Manufacturing Co. in Columbia after many years of dedicated service. She later worked as a cashier in the Kmart pharmacy department.
A mass of Christian burial will be held to honor Lillian on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church, 121 S. Second Street in Columbia. If you wish, please join Lillian in her love of the Phillies by wearing your favorite Philadelphia Phillies attire to her service. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the start of the service. Internment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, 600 Hellam Street, Wrightsville.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the American Heart Association.
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