Sarah Hoffman

Sarah Jean Hoffman departed this mortal existence on Sunday, April 14, in Salt Lake City, Utah after a valiant battle with breast cancer. She had endured to the end serving others, imparting hope, and providing friendship along her way.

Sarah was born in Bloomington, Illinois August 25, 1960 the second daughter to John Thomas and Shirley Daubs Hoffman. She attended Bloomington High School where she graduated in 1978. After graduation she traveled to Rexburg Idaho and attended Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) and earned her associate’s degree in 1981. In 1983 Sarah left the country to provide volunteer service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Santiago Chile. She loved meeting and serving the people of Chile and had planned someday to return. After returning Sarah attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah and while working toward her degree she was employed in the Campus Bookstore. After she completed her degree in Humanities Sarah continued to work in the Bookstore in several capacities. Sarah loved books, and her favorite position was as the Children’s Book Buyer.

In 1996 Sarah left the BYU bookstore and took the Children’s Book Buyer position with Deseret Book Company in Salt Lake. She loved reading and recommending books to others. Always ready to host an author or present a workshop on books for children. In 2006 Sarah decided to learn another part of the book business and left Deseret Book and went to work at the University of Utah Press.

Sarah Jean loved books and over the years her friends and family have received books as gifts for many occasions; although as much as Sarah loved books she loved her cats also. Peaches and Clare were her constant companions, as sometimes were Lily, Rusty, and Sammy.

The family would like to thank the Huntsman Cancer Center and especially Dr. Saundra Buys and her staff for their support and friendship that has allowed Sarah to be with us these past 10 years. We would also like to thank Paul Koester for the company of his lovely wife Stacey (cousin) in assisting Sarah and family through these last nine months. Also much love and appreciation to her Auntie Carole and her delicious meals, and the Don Roth family (cousins) for their continued trips from Pocatello Idaho for support. They would also like to thank the Silverado Hospice group for their continued assistance and especially Whitney.

Sarah is preceded in death by a sister Rebecca and her father. She is survived by her mother of Salt Lake, sister Peggy Hoffman of Salt Lake, nephew John Patrick Hoffman of Salt Lake, stepsister Sarah Katherine Carter (John), and niece Lila Elizabeth Carter of Bloomington, Illinois.

Her funeral will be Saturday, April 20 at the Ivins Ward Chapel 1860 South 300 East in Salt Lake City at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please share a book, or read a book or poem with someone. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Bloomington, Illinois on May 1.