Lydia Jane Smart Hoffman

Lydia Jane Smart Hoffman was born in Camden, NJ. She spent her childhood years in Greenville, MO and then later in Tacoma, WA. After that, she moved to Houston, TX, where she lived for the better part of 30 years. Lydia went to college and received a degree in business accounting. She worked in that profession for 25 years. Lydia gave birth to two wonderful boys, Bradley Smart and Joshua Smart, with her ex-husband, Brad Smart. In 2000, Lydia and Brad divorced. A year later, her and Blane Hoffman realized they were soulmates for life and have been together ever since.

Lydia was a magical and earthy person who loved life to the fullest. She took in stray animals, raised hybrid wolves that she rescued, and took in and helped stray people whenever she could. She always lent a hand in any way that she could to those less fortunate. Lydia loved to be in nature, and she loved to grow plants, even though she wasn’t very good at it.

Lydia was the most deeply spiritual person I had ever known, though she was not entirely fond of orthodox religiosity. She was studied in Tibetan Buddhism, though she was born Catholic. She was well versed in nature religions, studied Qabalah and in later years returned more to Christian mysticism and gnostic belief. She was a member of the Templar Collegia, a worldwide Knight Templar Organization.

In 2019, Lydia was diagnosed with large cell lung cancer. Since then, she has fought with astronomical vigor and courage to overcome her illness. Three surgeries, endless radiation treatments and chemotherapy, she survived nearly 5 years longer than the 4 months she was initially told she would have. She never gave up or gave in. Her poor little body just couldn’t take it anymore and on Thursday, June 22, 2023, she passed. She will be missed by her husband, Blane Hoffman; sons, Bradley Smart and Joshua Smart; sisters, Darl Buchoffer, Henry Oviatt, Patty Sullivan, Sandy Long, and Dee Halterman; and brothers, Roger Menear, Russ Menear, and Raymond Menear.

A memorial service will be held at 3 pm on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home. Friends are invited to visit one hour prior.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Lydia Jane Smart Hoffman.