Paula Hofer, age 91, longtime Destin and Fort Walton Beach resident, passed away peacefully on March 27, 2023 after a long struggle with Alzheimer's.  She was surrounded by family at her passing, and they are at peace knowing that she is in Heaven celebrating a life well lived with her loving husband, John Hofer. Paula and John were married on December 2, 1961 and spent 48 happy years together before John's passing in 2009.

Paula was born on June 26, 1931 in Lake Forest, IL to Florence Mae (Edgar) LeRoi and John William Paul LeRoi. She graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1950 and attended a 5 year nursing program at Rockford College (IL) and Evanston (IL) Hospital School of Nursing, (affiliated with Northwestern University) and became a Registered Nurse in 1955. Afterwards, she worked several years as an Orthopedic surgical nurse, took classes at Duke University School of Medicine and taught nursing students.

After their marriage Paula and John lived in Champaign and Park Forest, Illinois and Lansing Michigan before returning to Lake Forest in the late 1960's. They bought the house Paula grew up in, from her Mother, after her father died, and raised their family there until moving to Florida in 1986. While in Lake Forest, Paula was active at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, served as a substitute school nurse, a Cub Scout Den Mother, and organized a community wide CPR training program. The family learned to sail in Lake Michigan and joined North Shore Yacht Club in Highland Park. Paula assisted with, and helped the family run Kindly Computers, a family business that was one of the area's first Computer Stores.

Paula and John moved to Destin in the panhandle of Florida in 1986 and enjoyed gardening and were avid sailors and boaters with membership in the Ft Walton Sail and Power Squadron. They took many wonderful trips in their boat around the area with friends. Paula continued her volunteer activities at the Episcopal Church of St Simons on the Sound in Ft Walton Beach. Paula and John also volunteered at the Deerfield Beach State Park. Paula continued to hone her entrepreneurial skills by helping run a local family business. She was talented in many areas. In later years, she lived in a retirement home in Ft. Walton Beach and assisted in welcoming new residents. Several years ago, Paula moved to Texas to be near her son Mark.

Paula will be interred next to John in the Columbarium at St Simons on the Sound in Ft Walton Beach, FL at a Memorial Service on June 3, 2023 at 2:00pm.

Paula is survived by her sister Patricia L Brown, DeKalb, IL; her daughter Beth Stephens, Queen Creek, AZ; her son Jon Hofer (wife Wendy) Farmington, CT; son Mark Hofer, (wife Mandy) Montgomery, TX; niece Laura Brown, Alexandria, VA; cousin Sally TreKell, Aurora, IL; and several other distant relatives. She was preceded in death by her grandson Jaron Wilkin, and son-in-law Jim Stephens.

Paula was blessed with several grandchildren including Jennifer Bennie, Peoria, IL; Christopher and Matthew Wilkin, Springfield, IL; Sarah Wilkin,  Queen Creek, AZ; Ross, Sydney, and Courtney Hofer, Farmington, CT; Zachary and Cody Hofer, and Kyle and Natasha Murphy, Austin, TX.  Great grandchildren include Cole, Cullen, Aiden, and Bella Kuntzman; Hannah Brady; Amya, Grayce, and Cash Wilkin.

The family would like to thank the caregivers and staff at Devoted Hospice of Conroe, TX who provided wonderful end of life care. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Paula's name to:

Devoted Hospice
610 N Loop 336E
Conroe, TX 77301