Zenona B. Hoffman

Zenona Babenko Hoffman, Choctaw, OK, age 84, was born on January 6, 1926, in Buczucz, Poland. She was the daughter of Pavel & Anna (Matrenko) Babenko. She departed this life on Thursday, April 22, 2010, in Oklahoma City, OK. Zenona was 14 when the Nazi's took her from her home in the Ukraine. They forced her to labor in Germany until the British liberated her area in 1945. While working in a hospital in France, she met a GI from Oklahoma, Clarence Hoffman. This kind man shared his rations with her and bought a pair of shoes for her bare feet. Zenona and Clarence married December 4, 1945 in Marseilles, France. Zenona had 3 goals – to have her children born in America, to become a citizen of the best nation in the world, and to die in her adopted country. She has achieved all 3. Zenona came to this country in 1946. She and Clarence lived in the Choctaw area since 1962 and enjoyed 64 years of marriage. She retired from Lucent in 1988, where she was a process checker. Zenona loved gardening, sewing, china painting and taking care of her husband. Zenona was preceded in death by her parents, one sister and one brother. Survivors include her husband, Clarence Hoffman, Choctaw, OK; her son & life partner, Ken Hoffman & Mike Dippel, Oklahoma City, OK; 2 daughters, Sandy Longan, Oklahoma City, OK, Theresa Edwards, Oklahoma City, OK; 1 grandson, Dustin Edwards; her precious dog, Fritz and many other relatives and friends. The family would life to extend their sincere thanks to Excell Hospice, especially Markita and Kennisha. A formal visitation where the family will receive friends will be from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Monday, April 26, 2010, at Smith-Parks Funeral Service, 2039 N. Tim Holt Dr., Harrah, OK. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at the Resurrection Memorial Chapel at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery, Oklahoma City, OK, with Rev. Harley Richardson officiating. Services are under the direction of Smith~Parks Funeral Service in Harrah, OK.