Ronna Mae Hoffmann died at home, surrounded by her family, on September 2, 2017. She had battled Parkinson’s disease for many years with great courage and dignity. A memorial service for Ronna will be held at 3 pm Saturday September 9th at St. Mary’s of the Harbor Church Hall, 517 Commercial St., Provincetown.
Ronna was born in Wisconsin to a family of simple means. Her parents encouraged reading, education, and hard work as a way to make life better. As a child, she lost herself in the wonder of books and their stories which made her see that words could make a whole new world for her. She translated that into a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and a long career in education and psychology.
Along the way, Ronna met a dear friend who helped her discover the beauty of watercolor painting. Her subjects were mostly abstract and sought to express feelings rather than something literal and more easily accessible. For years, she loved that medium and painted often until Parkinson’s disease made it too hard to steady the brush.
With her photography, she still aimed to capture the abstract and the emotional. She was drawn to subjects that contain meaning and evoke emotion. Her art was influenced by feminists like Judy Chicago and Gloria Steinem. What inspired her in art is that you can communicate so much more when not limited only to words.
At the end of her life Ronna lived and took photographs in North Truro, MA, where she managed to gather some of her family about her in the beautiful light of outer Cape Cod.
Ronna leaves her spouse Jean Callum, of North Truro, MA, her daughter Kelly Taylor of Orleans, MA, and her son Bryant Taylor of Kingsley, MI. She also leaves her sister Patricia (Patt) Hoffmann of Gore, VA and her twin brother Ronald Hoffmann of Stevens Point, WI. Ronna was blessed with 8 grandchildren - Eric Green, Sarah Taylor, Evan Taylor-Washington, and Gabe, Zoe, Jon, Adam and Christopher Taylor. Ronna’s great grandchildren are Kianna, Abigail, Trinity, Arianna, Logan, Scarlett, Ava, and Mason.
In addition, Ronna leaves her nephew Jody Hoffmann, niece Lisa Manser and her great nephew and niece, Noah and Emma Manser. Ronna had many out-laws and in-laws: Kate Parker and Lynda Leick have known her the longest and the best. Ronna’s extended family and many friends are too numerous to mention by name but were no less important to her. She will be greatly missed.
If you would like to make a donation in Ronna’s memory, please make a gift to the women’s shelter or animal rescue in your community. Ronna was generous and kind soul and would be happy to be a part of helping someone to a better life or to save an animal.