Gladys Hofacker

Memorial services for Gladys Hofacker will be Saturday, September 26, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Newark Naz in Newark, Ohio. Visitation will be one hour prior to services.

Gladys Hofacker, sweet servant of Jesus Christ and heroine of the faith, resides in her eternal home rejoicing with our Lord and heavenly saints, both family and friends, who have gone before.  She peacefully took her final earthly breath on Saturday, September 12, 2020 in her daughter’s home in Morris, Minnesota.  During Gladys’s 89 years of life on earth she lovingly was described as the strongest and yet gentlest woman family and friends have known which was demonstrated through her kind and easy manner to minister to others through many avenues.  Sunday afternoon dinners of roast beef, mashed or cheddar potatoes, homemade rolls and delectable desserts were popular events topped by sweet and spicy conversations around the table; one-on-one interaction always concluded with the other person enriched and encouraged to rely on God’s grace; work ethic was demonstrated by personal example and her desire to do her best in every way as improvement was most important in the doing of a task; her home was so often filled with the music of her piano also played by many relatives and friends along with talented husband, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, children, grandchildren and friends singing hymns and classic favorites through the years.  Gladys’s home was a hub for several family events through the years; relatives and friends often drove out to her country home, off the beaten path, to visit and share life’s experiences.  Whatever the role: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mom, Grandmother, Aunt, Friend, Nurse; Gladys lovingly gave her full attention focusing on the relationship and finished life well as a good and faithful companion and caregiver all through life providing her fulfillment through those encounters.

This country home, enjoyed by so many, was established on June 2, 1954 when Gladys’s and Chauncey Hofacker united their hearts in marriage.  Gladys shared her story of sitting in church where her father was pastor and seeing a young man fixing the blinds to shade the sanctuary and she thought “my he is handsome, looks strong, and is helpful!”  Chauncey was drawn to Gladys’ beauty and shared many fond stories of their courtship through church events and Sunday afternoons spent together with sibling chaperones!  Gladys completed her nurse’s training at Allegheny General Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, PA and Chauncey took leave from the Air Force for the wedding officiated by the bride’s father Rev. William I Couchenour at the Church of the Nazarene, Waterford, Penslyvania.  Their honeymoon trip took them back to the Air Force Base in Sherman, Texas where he was stationed and their life of devoted togetherness began.  Through their 53- year marriage the love and dedication given to one another offered so much to those around them.  After his tour of duty the couple returned to Emlenton, Pennsylvania with son, Joe and where son, Bill, was welcomed to the family.  There were a few transitions for the couple during which Gladys worked as an RN in local hospitals until making their home in Newark, Ohio where daughter, Beth Ann, completed their family unit.  Gladys’s career in Ohio led her to two long-term positions in medical-surgical hospital units nursing patients to health after surgery with Licking Memorial Hospital in Newark and Knox Community Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Ohio before her retirement from nursing in 1992.  Beyond her official nursing responsibilities and retirement, she devotedly and compassionately cared for her mother in her last days and most earnestly Chauncey during his own health struggle until his passing in 2006.  During her widowhood until her stroke in April 2020, Gladys ministered to many other family members during times of acute illness, long-term disability, and post surgical care.  Her will to live and strength in her own life were demonstrated in her active participation guiding her family caregivers through her own recovery and sharing the faith of her journey.

Perhaps Gladys’s greatest role was that of Grandmother to her seven beautiful grandchildren.  She loved to host Thanksgiving and Christmas with as many returning home creating the best of times for each.    All of her grandchildren and some great-grands have spent a day making Grandma’s delicious cinnamon rolls with her.  Gladys demonstrated patience and anticipation of sweet endings during the measuring and mixing of the flour, yeast, and sugar; waiting for the dough to rise; rolling out the sections to add butter, sugar and cinnamon; cutting the rolled logs into rolls and placing them in the caramel layered pans to raise; finally filling the home with the smell of baking sweet cinnamon flavored rolls. This special day included conversations through the process and eventually over the warm caramel topped cinnamon rolls and glasses of milk when Grandma Gladys took the opportunity to share her wisdom with her grandchildren on marriage and life lessons walking by faith.  Family was very important; she had a close bond with her parents, brothers and their wives and children, and Chauncey’s family.  She was always willing to help with any task, big or small with a content spirit, without complaint, and always with a smile for gratitude extended her way.

Gladys was an active member of Newark First Church of the Nazarene, where through the years she periodically served in leadership on the church board, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, gave the occasional bread baking lesson and was presented with the Barnabas Award.  Gladys contributed her passion, time, and talent many years as the local Missionary President.  She and Chauncey went on several mission trips including regions of Africa and Haiti. Through Bible studies and small groups her church community was enriched by her faithfulness to continue her own learning as well as share her wisdom and trust living close to the Lord.  She prayed many of her family into their relationship with Jesus.

Gladys Mae Couchenour was born on March 26, 1931, to William Isaac and Gladys Mildred (Waltonbaugh) Couchenour in Union Town, Pennsylvania.  Gladys was raised and attended grade school in Lober, Pennsylvania and high school in Greensboro, Pennsylvania, graduating with honors in the class of 1949.  She continued her education at ENC (Eastern Nazarene College) in Quincy, MA for two years before completing her nurses’ training at the Allegheny General Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburg, PA with her RN degree.

She is survived by her children: Chauncey Joseph Hofacker of St. Louisville, OH, William (Lani) Hofacker of St. Louisville, OH, and Beth Ann (Ed) Anderson of Morris, MN; grandchildren: Chauncey David (Liz) Hofacker, Keith (Melissa) Hofacker, Daniel Hofacker, Holly (Robert) Fisher, Rebekah Anderson, Nathan (Beth) Anderson, Philip (Alexis) Anderson; 12 great-grandchildren; brothers: William (Ruth) Couchenour of Vicksburg, MI and James Couchenour of Columbiana, OH; and many nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Chauncey Franklin Hofacker; brother, Melvin Couchenour; and sisters-in-law: Betty (Mel) Couchenour and Pat (Jim) Couchenour.

Send Flowers:  DELIVERY TIMES:  Friday, September 25th 9:30-Noon and 1-4:30; Saturday, September 26th 10:00 to Noon.

Newark Naz

200 S. Williams Street

Newark, Ohio 43055

740-344-2651

Knute Nelson Hospice

2715 Highway 29 Suite 103, Alexandria
Minnesota, 56308

knutenelson.org

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Hospice of Central Ohio

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