Obituary of Sharon Sue Hoffman

Sharon Sue Hoffman, 54, of Keesler Corners Road, Fort Plain, NY passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on August 12, 2017 after a 16-month battle with Brain Cancer. Sharon was born in San Diego, California on April 3, 1963, the daughter of Homer and Susan Buddles. She attended various schools while her father was in the Navy. The family eventually settled in Fort Plain in 1979. Sharon graduated from the Fort Plain Central High School in 1981 and then Herkimer County Community College in 1982. She always had a love for "critters" of all kinds and worked at the Midvale Vet Clinic for several years. Sharon began her career in law enforcement with the St. Johnsville Police Department, becoming the first female officer in that department. She also worked for the Canajoharie Police Department and the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office before finding her law enforcement home with the Fulton County Sheriff's Office on August 13, 1990. During her career with Fulton County, she was an integral member of the Fulton County Sheriff's Office Dive/Rescue Team. Sharon retired from Fulton County in 2014 as a Patrol Sergeant. Sharon also volunteered as a member of the Mid-County Volunteer Ambulance Service. After retirement, Sharon found immense joy in working with the children at the Cherry Valley Springfield School as a substitute teacher until the onset of her illness in 2016. Sharon married Robert Hoffman on September 6, 1997. Together they welcomed their daughter, Sarah Jean, on February 24, 1999. Sharon was predeceased by her mother, Susan C. Buddles, on January 16, 2015. She is survived by her loving husband, Bob, her daughter and her greatest joy, Sarah Jean; her father, Homer Buddles and his wife Carol; her sister and brother-in-law, Becky and Jeff Smith; her brother Jon and his fiancé Karen Bogda; her brother-in-law John Hoffman and his wife Dianne; her sister-in-law, Lucy Araujo; her nephew Justin Smith, his wife Amber, their son, Jacoby; her niece Ashley Smith and her boyfriend Cody Bargstedt; her nephew Jon Buddles and his children Chloe and Hudson; her nephew Luke Buddles and his children Joshua and Cash; nieces Emily Sinning and her husband Jack; Valerie Hoffman and nephews John Hoffman and his wife Julie and their children Nathan and Samantha; Nicholas Hoffman and Chad Araujo as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and her "critters", Liam, Copper, Ducky, Stormy, Sparkles, Tigger, and Penny. A special thank you to the staff at the Albany Medical Center, St. Mary's Hospital, and especially the staff at the St. Johnsville Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for their dedicated care to Sharon and her family. Thanks to Jerry and Kelly Bushey and Kathy of Performance Therapy and Fitness in St. Johnsville for all their support and encouragement for Sharon and to those who helped and supported us during her illness. An open house to celebrate Sharon's life will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2017 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at the Fort Plain Reformed Church, Canal Street, Fort Plain followed by a Service of Remembrance. Arrangements are entrusted to Gray-Houghtaling & Smith Funeral Home, 34 Center Street, Fort Plain, NY. Memorial donations in Sharon's memory may be made to the Ayers Memorial Animal Shelter or the St. Jude's Children's Hospital.