Eileen Hofer-Dalrymple

Gentle and soft spoken are words used many different ways for many people. However, when these words are used together with phrases as a strong sense of family, a love for her church and a deep faith in God, they most certainly describe Eileen Hofer-Dalrymple. She was perfectly happy spending time with her loved ones and didn't need thousands of flashy distractions in her life. Many people today believe that times are tough, but in 1930, our country was in the depths of the Great Depression and people did what they could to make their lives happy. At the old Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan in a small room overlooking the front entrance, Frederick and Marvel (Norwood) Jackson welcomed the birth of their first child, Eileen Goldie, on February 19, 1930. Eileen was the oldest of 3 children who were all close in age. She grew up in a house off of North and Cooley Streets until the age of 10, the family then moved to West North Street to a house that would eventually be handed down to Eileen from her grandmother. She made this house her home and remained in this safe haven her entire life. Eileen was always very shy and timid and didn't like attention brought on herself. Already from a young age, Eileen was very conscientious about her faith in God and put much importance in the bible and church. Her neighbor, Mrs. Fair, was instrumental in helping Eileen in converting to Catholicism. Determined and devout, Eileen wanted to inspire others through the word of God, which she herself so deeply believed in, by becoming a nun someday. Eileen graduated from St. A's High School in 1948. She went on to further her education and graduated top in her class earning her LPN. She used these skills while working at Verderies Nursing Home and Font Bonne Manor (a local retirement home for the Sisters of St. Joseph), until her retirement in 1991. She also was a nurse's aid at Fairmont Nursing Home in Kalamazoo. Eileen had a very caring and generous nature and would rather give selflessly and do without for others, while never asking for anything in return. Eileen had met and married Edward Hofer and together they raised eight children. Unfortunately, the marriage did not last and they went their separate ways. Eileen remained devoted to her children as a loving and caring mother and derived endless joy watching her family grow and succeed in life. Eileen would find love again in a friend of her brothers, Bob Dalrymple. They became very good friends and nurtured their love for 17 years. Eileen did not want an annulment from her first marriage, for that reason she had to wait until her first husband died in order to remarry. On a cold December 20, 1987, Father Teller happily wed Bob and Eileen. They spent many wonderful years together deeply committed to one another. Eileen had many different interests that she enjoyed. She was competitive and liked to play games like Chinese checkers, but her favorite being cribbage. She taught her whole family how to play and anyone that stopped in to visit was drawn into playing a game. Eileen was also a voracious reader of mystery novels and working puzzles. Eileen liked to crochet and knit afghans, as well as sew Barbie doll clothes that she would donate to the St. Joseph Church's annual rummage sale, where she was a member. Eileen knew the truth of God's unconditional love and she was a believer in visions/holy seeing. While attending mass at St. A's, Eileen saw in a vision a "pink fog" and that "everyone was somehow connected - as ONE." She also remembers seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary and felt great sadness. Eileen believed that this vision was given to her by God to demonstrate how Christ felt upon the cross. These visions truly felt real to her and strengthened her faith evermore. Eileen went to God on Sunday, November 16, 2003, at her home with family at her side. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Edward John Hofer, a son, Fred Hofer, a daughter, Betty Tafil and her parents, Frederick and Marvel Jackson. She is survived by her husband, Robert Dalrymple. Also surviving are five daughters: Janice (Norman) Elliott of Stillwater, OK; Joette Hofer of Parchment; Cathy Hofer of Kalamazoo, MI; Susan (Terry) Price of Parchment; and Laurie Richmond of Kalamazoo, MI; a son, David Hofer, Sr of Kalamazoo, MI; a brother, Ted (Marsha) Jackson of Vicksburg; a sister, Betty Littell of Gobles; 13 grandchildren: David, Robbie and Christina Elliott, Leora Dillenbeck, Annie Sanderson, Joseph Hofer, David Jr. and Kimberly Hofer, Kristy Hofer, Bethany and Amber Tafil, Justin and Aaron Richmond; 4 great-grandchildren: Kassidy Elliott, Tristin and Zoe Sanderson, Corbin Baranowski and many nieces and nephews. Friends may spend time with the family on Tuesday, November 18, from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM at the Betzler Funeral Homes, Stadium Drive, West of US-131, 375-2900, where a Rosary will be recited at 7:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, November 19, at 10:30 AM at St. Augustine Cathedral, Fr. Mike Hazard celebrant. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery. Following the burial, food and fellowship will be shared in the St. Joseph Church Hall. To read Eileen's complete life story, share a memory, send flowers or make memorial contribution to Hospice of Greater Kalamazoo please visit www.lifestorynet.com. Eileen truly knew how to enjoy, cherish and celebrate every moment that life had to offer. As Eileen lives on in heaven, she will also live on in our hearts.