Katherine “ Kitty” Laird Hoch

Katherine “ Kitty” Laird Hoch, 100, formerly of New Freedom passed away Saturday, January 25, 2025. She was the loving wife of the late Donald James Hoch, to whom she was married 45 years.

Born in Mt. Union, PA, she was the daughter of the late Ralph E. and Mabel (Stevenson) Laird.

Kitty graduated from Lewisburg High School. She attended the Presbyterian School of Nursing in Philadelphia and later Bucknell University, receiving a degree in nursing. After schooling she worked for Frontier Nursing Service in Kentucky, where she cared for many clients through the hills of Appalachia. During the Depression Era, Kitty moved to the family farm in Mazeppa, PA. She married Donald and together they raised their family. Kitty worked many years as an RN with York Hospital, retiring from the coronary care dept. She was a loving grandmother who shared her love in quiet yet steadfast ways; from impromptu picnics to baking lessons to letters in college or boot camp. She was a long-time resident of SpiriTrust Lutheran “Zimmerman Place” in Shrewsbury and most recently SpiriTrust in York.

Kitty is survived by four children, Richard A. Hoch, David Hoch, Jonathan Hoch and Victoria Fricke; 6 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and 3 brothers Ralph E. Laird Jr., George Laird, and Robert “Bob” Laird.

There will be a viewing on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 12:00 -2:00 p.m. at Hartenstein Funeral & Cremation Care, Inc., 24 N. Second St., New Freedom, PA 17349. Funeral services follow at 2:00 p.m at at the funeral home, Rev. Mark E. Fair officiating. The burial will be in New Freedom Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to SpiriTrust Social Services; 1801 Folkemer Circle, York, PA 17404.