Mary Ellen "Susie" Hoferer

Mary Ellen “Susie” Hoferer, 84, Topeka, died Tuesday afternoon, February 23, 2016, at the House at Midland Care. Susie was born April 11, 1931, in Topeka, Kansas, to James Thomas and Catherine Marie Durkin Lardner. She attended Holy Name Grade School and graduated from Hayden High School in 1949. Susie studied business at Washburn University, going on to work as a buyer for Crosby Brothers Department Store. In 1971, she joined her brothers, Jim and Charles, as a partner in the family business, J.T. Lardner Cut Stone, founded by their father in 1903. She remained with the business until her retirement in 2011. Susie was a charter member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, where she was an active member of the PTA and the Women’s Club and had been a member of the Daughters of Isabella since 1950. She was also a member and former officer of the West Hills Garden Club, and remained active for many years in the Hayden High School community as an alumna and a parent of two graduates. After an introduction through mutual friends, Susie married George Francis “Fritz” Hoferer, a long-time engineer with the firm of Finney and Turnipseed, on Sept. 24, 1958, in Topeka, Kansas. They enjoyed over 42 years together until his death on July 29th, 2001. Also preceding her in death were her parents, her sister, Catherine “Kitty” Newton, and her brothers, James Lardner, Charles “Corky” Lardner, and Joseph “Buzzy” Lardner. Susie is survived by her two daughters, Michelle Ann Hoferer, of Topeka, Kansas, and Christine Hoferer Adams (Gary), of Prairie Village, Kansas; her two grandchildren, Sheldon Adams, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Ashton Adams, of Washington, D.C.; and her many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. A rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Thursday at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614, followed by visitation until 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, February 26th, at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the J.T. & Catherine Lardner Fund at the Topeka Community Foundation, sent in care of the funeral home.

Mary Ellen "Susie" Hoferer

April 11, 1931 - February 23, 2016