UPDATED 3-13-23
Ms. Hoffa’s memorial service was canceled. The Memorial Mass is still scheduled to take place Wednesday, March 15 at 12:30.

On Thursday, March 2, students at SHS were notified that their beloved chemistry teacher, Mrs. Hoffa, had passed away not long before on Wednesday March 1.

Mary Hoffa had been a teacher at Schenectady for 20 years. Just a little over 2 months before her passing, when she had been out of school for about a week already, she wrote a long and heartfelt message to her students in Google Classroom. She had broken the news about her sickness being edema, puffiness caused by excess fluid trapped in the bodies tissues, a common early sign of heart failure.

“My doctor and I are working very hard on treating this, but it takes time,” she wrote, assuring her students, and not saying anything about her life being at risk. 

Due to this, many of her former students were shocked and confused at the news. They will continue to grieve along with many teachers as SHS, some of whom were in contact with her and by her side the days leading up to her passing. 

There will be a wake for Mrs. Hoffa on Tuesday, March 14 from 5-7 pm at Griswold Funeral home, at 1867 State St. 

A memorial mass for her will be held Wednesday, March 15 at 12:30 pm at St. John the Evangelist Church, at 806 Union St.

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