Sally Anne Hoffmann Plante

Sally Anne Hoffmann Plante, 90, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, July 28, 2008 at Caretel Inns in St. Joseph. Sally was born June 25, 1918 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Sally is survived by her husband, Robert F. Plante of St. Joseph; her son Stephen H. (Judith) Hoffmann of South Bend, Indiana; her daughter Melissa D. Hoffmann of Franklinton, North Carolina; her step-son Daniel R. (Margaret) Plante of Glenview, Illinois; her step-daughter Norah P. (Brian) Satre of Batavia, Illinois; seven grandchildren, M. Scott Sedam, Owen Satre, Anne Satre, Michael Plante, Livia Satre, Madeleine Plante, and Mary Grace Plante; and her niece Nancy Dickinson Brown of Woodstock, Connecticut and her children. Sally was preceded in death by her parents James & Ruth Plaslee; two daughters Catherine and Elizabeth, and after fifty-one years of marriage her first husband, Edward Hempstead Hoffmann, who died on August 23, 1991. Sally remarried in 1995 when she was 78 and Robert was 73. She and Robert were able to travel, to laugh, and to enjoy life and each other’s company for almost thirteen years. Sally was an accomplished gardener who contributed to the design and maintenance of several community parks, and found great joy in perfecting the landscaping surrounding her homes. She was a lifetime member of the Indian Hills Garden Club and was one of its earliest members. Sally loved St. Joseph, was a committed member of the community, and served on the Boards of many organizations. Long before raising environmental concerns was the vogue, Sally spearheaded efforts fifty years ago to preserve the Jean Klock Park dunes for future generations. She was an early supporter of the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, the North Berrien Historical Society, a Lifetime member of the Women’s Service League, the Sarrett Nature Center, and the Krasl Art Center. Sally was a member of the Berrien Hills Country Club and the Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club. She loved Friday nights at the St. Joseph Yacht Club, and attending performances at the Mendel Center. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday and 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Thursday with Prayers at 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at Starks and Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2008, at St. Joseph Catholic Church at 211 Church Street in St. Joseph followed by a private burial at Riverview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to the Indian Hills Garden Club at 1225 Lake Boulevard in St. Joseph, or to the Maud Preston Palenkse Memorial Library at 500 Market Street in St. Joseph.