Virginia "Gini" Hofman

Virginia “Gini” Frances (Daoust) Hofman passed away July 1, 2023 at McLaren Macomb after a brief but valiant battle with sepsis. She was 83.

Gini, as she liked to be called, was born March 1, 1940 Detroit, Michigan. She grew up in the city, attending St. Juliana Elementary. As a girl, she loved playing pretend, and would play house in the front entry and make believe she and her mother were neighbors. When her younger brother was born, she would include him by dressing him up. As a teen, she attended Dominican High School, where she graduated in 1958.

She attended nursing school after graduation. It was at the hospital where she met a handsome young man named Albert Hofman who was visiting his mother. The pair began dating, and she hoped to go on enough dates to see all of the nice sweaters he wore. Nursing school didn’t work out, but their relationship did. Al brought Gini home to properly meet the family and see the farm. At one point in the evening, she asked Al’s mother for directions to the ladies’ room. She called for Al to grab Gini’s coat. Being a city girl, Gini couldn’t think of a reason she would need her coat. Little did she know that the ladies room was an outhouse out back! It didn’t scare her away, and Gini and Al were married October 27, 1962. The two moved to the country, and she couldn’t imagine going back to city life.

They welcomed their first daughter Alice a few years later. It seemed she was meant to be an only child, so Gini decided to go back to school. She was thrown a bit of an extra curveball when finding out she was pregnant! She persevered, finished her degree in library science, and gave birth to their other daughter, Amanda. She went to work as a librarian at E.F. Siefert elementary school, where she was able to share her love of reading with the many children that passed through the school. She loved her career, and thought of the many students as her kids, as well.

The family continued to grow with grandchildren. Gini loved babysitting them. She continued to enjoy spending time with them as they grew into adults. They did many activities together over the years, creating many special memories. These included art shows, movies, and meals together, even a trip to Hawaii!

She continued to share her love of reading and storytelling throughout her life. She spent a year as a round table writer with The Bay Voice. After she retired, Gini would visit the Presbyterian Village in New Baltimore sharing stories. She began incorporating her love of teddy bears, bringing along some of her collection to gift the residents. Recent years were spent serving on the board of the Lenox Township Library.

Gini was a true people person. She loved making friends wherever she went, chatting with everyone she met. Many friends were fellow Red Hat group members. She especially enjoyed finding ways to make their meet-ups special. When it was her turn to host, she would take the time to choose a favorite restaurant. Then, carefully choose decorations and favors. She would pick up special items whenever she saw them, so she would be ready for any occasion to decorate or offer a gift to someone special.

She will be missed by all those who loved her: Her brother, Robert (Kathleen) Daoust; children Alice Catherine Hofman and Amanda Mabel (Geoffrey) Hofman-Frethem; grandchildren Catherine Ellen Jacobs (Nicholas) Venier, Timothy Albert Jacobs, and Orion Alexander Jacobs.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Catherine and Wilfrid Daoust; her husband, Albert Hector Hofman, and her dear dogs, Charlie and Mr. Chubbles. 

Visitation to take place on Thursday, July 13 from 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM. Lee-Ellena Funeral Home, 46530 Romeo Plank, Macomb, MI 48044.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 14 at 10:00 AM, at St. Francis-St. Maximilian Catholic Church, 62811 New Haven Road, Ray, MI 48096. Instate, 9:30 AM.  Rite of Committal and burial to follow at Centennial Cemetery in New Haven.