Patricia Rice Hoffman, 87, of Sparta died Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare, Sparta. She was born on January 19, 1921 in Sparta to Zelotes S. and Vena (Hemstock) Rice. She grew up in Sparta and graduated from Sparta High School in 1939. Patricia attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and then returned home to work at Monroe County Publishers. Patricia married Harold G. Hoffman on June 5, 1943 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta. After marriage they resided all their married lives in Sparta. They owned and operated Harold’s Studio in downtown Sparta until 1951.

     After her family had grown she returned to the Monroe County Publishers until retiring in 1994.           .

     Patricia was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and for many years and served as Banquet Chairman. She often chaired the Mother Daughter Banquet at St. Patrick’s. She was on the Board of Directors for the Sparta Housing Authority and the Sparta-Tomah Broadcasting Company. Patricia was a member of the Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Auxiliary and St. Claire Mission Clinic.

     She is survived by two sons, Harold G. II (Barbara) Hoffman of West Salem; William R. (Suzanne) Hoffman of Sparta; a daughter, Patricia H. (Ronald) Donnell of Cave Creek, AZ; 6 grandchildren, Marion T. (Mark) Fraley, Michael B. (Marie) Hoffman, Luke P. (Amanda) Hoffman, Matthew W. Hoffman, Natalie M. Hoffman, Shannon L. Hoffman; 4 great grandchildren, James, Thomas, Josef, and Madison; a brother, Zel S. (Babette) Rice of Sparta; a sister, Elizabeth (Allen) Ecker of  New York, New York; a sister-in-law, Barbara Rice of  Sparta; nieces, and nephews.

     She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold G. Hoffman on February 1, 1981; an infant daughter, Mary Elizabeth in 1962; a son, Thomas J. Hoffman on January 22, 2003; a sister, Mary Ellen Marzolf; and two brothers, John D. Rice, and James W. Rice. 

     Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Sparta with Father James Leary O.F.M. Cap. officiating. Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta on Sunday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and at the funeral home on Monday from 8:30 a.m. until 9:45 a.m..

     Memorials may be given to St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Monroe County Cancer Society, or Franciscan Skemp Healthcare Sparta Foundation.