A memorial service will be held Thursday for Martha C. Hoffman, formerly of Hermitage. She passed away at 4:30 a.m. Saturday (1-24-16) in the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System. She was 86.

As an only child, Martha Carolyn was born on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 1929, in Marietta, Ohio, to Thesyl E. And Mary E. Wellman.

At age 3, she contracted meningitis and her parents were told she would never be able to walk again. She not only walked again, but did tap and ballet dance, acrobatics and roller-skate figure skating through her childhood and adulthood, when one day she skated into the heart of her husband and best friend of 65 years, Archie R. Hoffman Jr.

Martha was employed as a switchboard operator for Bell Telephone, J.C. Penney Co. and what was then Sharon General Hospital through her lifetime.

She shared her musical, vocal and pianist gifts with St. Paul's Church of Christ in Hermitage, as the youth choir director for many years, as well as with her friends and family daily and at special gatherings in her home.

Martha was a skilled seamstress and needleworker. Her handiwork was evident in the vast number of cross-stitched masterpieces as well as crocheted, knitted, crewel, painted and tatted works created for her family and friends as well as decor in her home.

Following in her mother's footsteps, Martha was active in Girl Scouting as a youngster and then as a leader when her daughters became involved. She was a member of Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 59, Marietta.

Martha, with her husband, developed long and lasting friendships with other young couples with children throughout her lifetime, playing bridge every time there was a chance.

Surviving to celebrate her life and cherish their memories of her are: her four children, David L. Hoffman and his wife Patricia, West Middlesex; Carol L. Scholl and her husband Chester B. Scholl Jr., Hermitage; Patricia A. Czerwinski and her husband Robert, Cincinnati; and Sandra J. Mente and her husband Remy, Florissant, Mo.; 11 grandchildren, Donald L. Hoffman, Kristi A. Mentzer, Katie L. Thompson and her husband Eric, Michael C. Merletti and his wife Addie Clair, Matthew Merletti and his fiancée Amy Madill, Erik T. Woods and his wife Sherri, Kelly E. Habbyshaw, David J. Woods, Lori A. Veccia, Amy L. Cooper and her husband Lorenzo, and Randel R. Veccia and his wife Meagan; and 17 great-grandchildren, Harley, Brooke, Kalee, Avery, Merryn, Rowan, Regan, Avery, Paige, Jack, Lucy, Emmy, Ava, Austyn, Dylan, Lorenzo and Cooper.

She was preceded in passing by her husband on March 23, 2013. Also preceding her in passing were a stillborn child and a grandson, David Lee Hoffman Jr.

Calling hours: 4 p.m. to time of service Thursday (1-28-16) in J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.

Service: Memorial service at 6 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Michael Carlin, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Sharpsville, officiating.