Amy L Hoch

Amy L. Hoch, nee Leafgreen, age 86, of Dyer, IN formerly of Calumet City and the Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Mrs. Hoch was born Sunday, September 8, 1929 and passed away peacefully Thursday, October 1, 2015. Beloved wife of 61 years of the late John J. "Jack" Hoch. Devoted mother of Timothy (Eva), Joanne, Daniel (Debra), Theodore (Barbara), Christopher (Susan), and the late Jeffrey Hoch. Proud grandmother of 15; great-grandmother of 5. Kind aunt of many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her parents Gustov and Selma Leafgreen, brother: Hubert (Natalie) Leafgreen, sisters: late Ruth T. Leafgreen, late Marjorie (Robert) Toon, and late June (Kenneth) Shipley, daughter-in-law Catherine, and granddaughter Melanie. Visitation Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. Funeral service Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Smits Funeral Home 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane (Rt.30&Pleasant Springs Ln.) Dyer, IN with Pastor James Clark officiating. Interment Oakland Memory Lanes Cemetery - Dolton, IL. Mrs. Hoch was born to Swedish immigrants Gustav and Selma Leafgreen. She grew up in the Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago, graduated from Hirsch High School. Mrs. Hoch was a medical secretary for the Veteran's Administration following graduation. She married John "Jack" Hoch in December of 1950, and together they had six children. Mrs. Hoch was an active member of Grace Evangelical United Brethren Church, Faith United Methodist Church, and Dyer United Methodist Church. Mrs. Hoch graduated with her Associate's Degree in Nursing from Thornton Community College in 1982, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from St. Francis College in 1988. She retired as a Director of Nursing from St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond, IN. She lovingly nurtured each of her children, and was as likely to laugh with them as she was to provide discipline when needed. She was devoted to Jack until his passing in 2011, and in their retirement accompanied him on travels to the American Southwest and Northwest, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, and elsewhere. Active in the lives of many throughout her youth and adulthood, she also would cheer up and otherwise nurture others in her later years at Hartsfield Village in Munster, IN. She could always be counted on for honesty and frankness tempered with caring and compassion, and always had a kind word and a smile to share. Mrs. Hoch was a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, coworker, neighbor, and many other things, and made this world a better, kinder, more fun place! Mrs. Hoch's family would like to acknowledge the staff at Hartsfield Village for the care and compassion shown to their mother. Thank you all. Memorial contributions to the Alzheimer''s Association (225 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601) or Down Syndrome Assoc. (2927 Jewett Ave. Highland, IN 46322) greatly appreciated.