HOFFA, Elizabeth 1845-1926

HOFFA, SHELLY

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/1/2015 at 12:59:59

Death Of Pioneer Resident

Mrs. Elizabeth Hoffa Passed Away at Age of 83 Years

Mrs. Elizabeth Hoffa, who for fifty-three years was a resident of Grundy county, passed away at her home in Melrose township at the advanced age of 83.

Funeral services were held at the church at Ivester. Interment was made in the family lot in the Ivester cemetery. In the absence of the local pastor, the services were conducted by Rev. A. P. Blough of Waterloo.

Elizabeth Shelly was born in Blair county, Penn., May 19, 1845, and died Oct. 14, 1926, aged 81 years, 4 months and 25 days. She came west to Shannon, Ill., in 1866, and was married to Henry Hoffa Dec. 7, 1869, who preceded her in death July 29, 1907.

After three years of residence near Shannon, they removed to Melrose township, Grundy county, Iowa, on the farm they had purchased, where she continuously resided excepting the winters which she spent in California.

Five children were born to them, all of whom are still living and have families. They are Maria E. Sayer, of Fresno, Cal.; Harvey S. Hoffa of Marshalltown; Iver J. Hoffa, Ada M. Messer and Lester A. Hoffa, of Grundy county. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was one of a family of thirteen children and is survived by one brother and two sisters, namely: Jacob Shelly of Shannon, Ill.; Mrs. Sarah Stonerook, of Tipton, Ill., and Louisa Bowers, of Hope, Kan. She united with the Church of the Brethren and lived a faithful and devout life up to the time of her death.

Last June she returned from California to Grundy county and later went to a Minneapolis sanitarium and spent five weeks there for the removal of a large cancer, from which she recuperated rapidly until high blood pressure resulted in paralysis and death.

Mrs. Hoffa was a faithful mother to her family and was greatly loved and respected for the active part in the community where 53 years of her life was spent. Her memory will be endeared in the hearts of all who knew her for the unselfish and sympathetic service which she gave without reserve through a long and healthful life.

The oldest daughter, Maria, arrived from California in time for the funeral. Also Jacob Shelly, only remaining brother, and Mrs. Barbara Shelly of Illinois, besides relatives and friends from Marshalltown, Waterloo, Conrad, Eldora and Grundy Center.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 21 October 1926, pg 4