Funeral Details

Lila Hoffman nee Levy, age 97

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Lila Hoffman, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother on April 8, 2022. After blessing us with 97 years of love, she passed peacefully after a long illness.

Born in Chicago, IL. to Albert and Esther Levy, Lila was the second of five children. After graduating from high school in 1942, she watched her younger siblings while also helping her father in his grocery store. Friendly and garrulous, Lila had many friends and was able to talk to anyone. At a New Year’s Eve party in 1943, this gift led to a meeting with a young man who had recently enlisted in the Coast Guard. They hit it off so well that, on February 6, they got engaged, and on November 17, 1943, that man, named the late Jerome (Jerry) Hoffman, made Lila his wife. Later, when Jerry went to serve his country in World War II, Lila made sure he knew that he would always have someone at home waiting for his return.

After the war, Jerry and Lila started their own little family by bringing into the world three daughters: Esther, Michelle and the late Diane. Lila reveled in her role as mother and wife. While Jerry worked, Lila made their house a home. She was tough and determined, traits that served her well, especially when, in 1975, Jerry suffered a massive heart attack. Being unable to work, Jerry switched places with Lila. She began work as a secretary at a nearby company while Jerry watched over the house. After she retired, Lila continued to have an active life with Jerry. They loved working on his miniatures together. She had a contagious zeal for life and the charm and good nature that made strangers seem like lifelong friends. Whether it was a simple conversation at her kitchen table, a walk through the Chicago Botanic Garden, or even a trip to London, UK, Hawaii, Lila enjoyed every moment of it.

Their love story, was their favorite song “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” They did everything together and were best friends. When you saw them, they were always walking hand-in-hand…never saying “hello” or “goodbye” without a kiss.

Lila was predeceased by her husband, Jerry, her daughter, Diane, her parents, and two brothers. She is survived by daughters Esther (William) and Michelle (Maggie), her grandchildren, Michael (Chava Alpert) Bloom, Kelly Beth and William Jerry "Skip" Gilfillan, and by her great-grandchildren, Sarah Nirit Bloom, Matan and Ethan Bloom.

A funeral service will be held at Shalom Memorial Park at 2pm on Tuesday, April 12, 2022. The family requests that Donations be sent to your choice of either Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601, www.alz.org or Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036, www.bcrf.org/donate. To attend the funeral live stream, please visit our website. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.