Paula Vandervoort Hoffman, of 504 Erwin Road, Chapel Hill, N.C. died on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at N.C. Memorial Hospital, the result of a stroke suffered the previous weekend.
Affectionately known as Polly, she was the youngest of eight children, and was named for the newly elected pope at the time, Pope Paul VI. Born June 27, 1963 in Somerville, N.J., she moved with the family from North Plainfield down to Chapel Hill. Her formative years were spent back up in New Jersey, where she did her schooling in Rumson, graduating from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School in 1981.
She stayed there in the Jersey shore area and, with skills she developed in fine-furniture refinishing, carved out a niche in the wealthy Monmouth County area. She was blessed with a fine singing voice and guitar talent that made her a favorite in every music venue she played. In the last years of her life, she settled in the Chapel Hill area, not far from Vance Street, where the family resided in the ’60s. Health problems made her unable to continue on with the rigors of her craft, but she still made positive contributions to those she was close to in her own way. She was devoted to her cats, her music and leaving a light footprint on this Earth. She is survived by her mother, Gloria Hoffman, of Carillon Extended Care Facility in Hillsborough, N.C.; brothers, H. Stewart Hoffman III of Milton, Fla., David K. Hoffman of Merlin, Ore., Geoffrey E. Hoffman of Chapel Hill, Damian M. Hoffman of Carrboro, N.C..; and sisters, Hilary S. Hoffman McCain of Whiting, N.J. and Joan St. Claire (Hoffman) of Galloway, N.J. She is pre-deceased by her father, Herbert S. Hoffman II, and sister, Alice A. Hoffman McCormick. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, along with extended family members, foremostly, her friend and companion, Angie Ammons.
The family would like to especially thank the professional, attentive staff of the ICUs and ER at N.C. Memorial Hospital, and the clergy from St. Thomas More Catholic Church for their spiritual comfort and pastoral care. As with Polly’s wishes, in lieu of flowers or donations, the Hoffmans ask a contribution be made in her name to the Orange County Humane Society. She will be interred at the family plot in Somerville, N.J.