Charlene Hoffer

Charlene Hoffer, 78, of Lancaster, passed away on January 28, 2026. Born in Brooklyn, NY to the late Harold and Martha (Kosik) Kris, she was the loving wife of Donald Hoffer and served as a teacher for more than 30 years.

When Charlene Hoffer made a decision, she carried it out. She saw no sense in dilly-dallying or dawdling. Nor would she put up with any sass. On one memorable occasion, while traveling in Germany, members of her tour group were buzzing about a man sitting at a nearby table in the beerhall. “That’s Hugh Grant!” Charlene approached the actor to get his autograph. Upon being told by a member of his retinue that he was not giving autographs, she responded, “Well, he’s giving this one!” Charlene–a person who could probably have counted the number of movies she ever saw in a theater on one hand (although she was an absolutely voracious reader)–knew nothing about Hugh Grant except that he was an actor her daughter liked, but she didn’t need to know more than that. This is something that would make her daughter happy. Her mind was made up, and she wasn’t going to take “no” for an answer.

Charlene Ruth Hoffer, nÈe Kris, was born in 1947 in New York City to Harold and Martha Kris. After getting her BA from Eastern Baptist College and her master’s degree from Penn State University, Charlene married Donald Hoffer. They settled in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, but she remained close to her parents, both emotionally and geographically; they bought a house just two doors down from Charlene and Don. It was while they lived in Lycoming County that Charlene and Don began attending Agape Fellowship church. Charlene learned to play the piano as a child, and she loved to share her gift of music with others. Agape gave her ample opportunity to do so. She and her family all made lifelong friends at Agape, friends who remember Charlene for her generous soul and her easy laugh.

Although both of Charlene and Don’s daughters, Krista and Karin, moved to other parts of the state after graduating from college and getting married, when Charlene became a grandmother, she, like her own parents, moved to be closer to her children and their children. Also like her own parents, Charlene was an integral part of her grandchildren’s lives. Baseball, volleyball, dance, 4H, orchestra, theater, it didn’t matter what Owen, Isabel, Benjamin, and Ollie were doing, Grammie wanted to be there to see them do it. Charlene and Don also found a new church home at Providence Church in New Providence.

With Don by her side, Charlene raised two daughters into kind, caring, generous women, and she helped to raise her four grandchildren similarly, but she was also a beloved figure in the lives of countless other children. Charlene was a teacher in the Jersey Shore and Loyalsock school districts, where she taught first grade and high school German. She “retired” after 30years, but that didn’t stop her from continuing to educate children and aid her community. In her so-called retirement, Charlene worked as an administrator for Wee Friends Preschool and at the Quarryville Public Library. She also volunteered in her grandchildren’s classrooms and for theBible2School program. Even once Charlene finally did *really* retire, she became the principle bus trip organizer at her retirement community.

She and Don also made it a point to keep abreast of their neighbors’ needs, ensuring that if anyone ever needed some help with cooking or paperwork or a ride to the doctor, they got it, usually from Charlene and Don themselves. Twenty-three years later, Charlene’s daughter still has the Hofbrauhaus coaster with Hugh Grant’s signature.

At the end of her life, Charlene made a similarly decisive decision. She did not want any invasive treatments or extraordinary efforts to prolong her life. Both of Charlene’s parents lived into their 90s, and her family always believed that they would get to enjoy her in their lives until she was at least that old. In the end, though, as in most things, Charlene knew better. She recognized her Lord calling home His good and faithful servant. She spent her last day in this life utterly at peace, enjoying ice cream and cappuccino and the company of her loved ones. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, God called her to come and celebrate with Him, and, with her beloved family holding her hand, she answered.

Charlene is pre-deceased by her parents, Harold Kris and Martha Kris nee Kosik. She is survived, and will be desperately missed, by her husband, Donald; her daughter, Krista Link; son-in-law, Rev. Dr. Jason Link; their children, Owen and Isabel, her daughter, Karin Rezendes; son-in-law, Timothy, and their children, Benjamin and Ollie, as well as everyone who had the pleasure of being a part of her life from day to day.

In lieu of flowers, Charlene requested that contributions be made to Bible2School Manheim Township and the Calvary Homes Benevolent Fund. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 7 at 11 a.m. at Providence Church, 269 Cinder Rd., New Providence.

The family invites you to join them for food and fellowship after the service.