Edith "Tilis" Hofmann

Edith “Tilis” Hofmann, 95, of Bettendorf, died peacefully Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at The Fountains Senior Living center, Bettendorf.  

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. The Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed at the bottom of this page. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport.  Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service in the gathering space at church.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Quad City Symphony children’s music program, the Figge art gallery or Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.  Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Edith Rodriguez-Erdmann was born on September 3, 1928 in Tampico, Mexico, the third of six children of Rafael and Edith (Erdmann) Rodriguez. She graduated from Colegio Francés de San Cosme in 1948. Following her matriculation, she attended typography classes and secretarial schooling. Tilis worked her way up to executive secretary to the president of a large company in Mexico. She also had the great privilege of traveling in Europe for 3 months and her love of travel continued throughout her lifetime. She had a passion for the arts, music, and a deep respect for her Mexican, European, and Spanish heritage. She understood the value of education and believed that education was a key principle for success in life. This combined with the ability to adapt to whatever life’s challenges presented were keys for a lifetime of success.  She encompassed all these principles throughout her course in life. From being born in a small seaside village in Mexico to growing up in the large cosmopolitan city of Mexico City this life skill was crafted and perfected. It continued to serve her well after moving to another country, learning a new language and eventually settling permanently in Iowa. She learned to adapt to any situation and thrive within it.

On April 20, 1963, she was united in marriage to Dr. Ronald Joseph Hofmann in Cuernavaca, Mexico.  Following their marriage, the Hofmanns moved to Chicago where Dr. Hofmann finished his residency in ophthalmology.  In 1964, the Hofmanns moved to Davenport to start the Davenport Eye Group with Ronn’s brother, Dr. William B. Hofmann.

The Hofmanns would return to Mexico annually to visit family and simultaneously started a free clinic in Huasca, Mexico providing comprehensive Ophthalmologic care to indigenous peoples. They were so committed to this cause that they continued this work for 30 years.  Tilis had no formal training in a medical field but was so talented that she soon became a surgical assistant to her husband during ophthalmologic procedures and surgeries. Both worked tirelessly while taking vacation time to serve this mission.  This clinic continues to operate in Huasca, Mexico to this day as they were so influential as to garner the support of the Mexican government as well as local officials. A memorial park commemorating their years of service was dedicated to them in the town of Huasca in 2018.

Tilis had an incredibly humble, generous, and philanthropic spirit.  She preferred doing things quietly behind the scenes.  She did not need to be recognized for her achievements but made sure that all the details were always meticulously arranged.  She served as a mentor to many nieces and nephews while introducing and educating them of her newly adopted American culture.  She was a welcoming host to over a dozen of her nieces and nephews who came from Mexico to spend a year with her and live with her and her family.   The love she had for her family was unmatched as she welcomed and hosted nieces and nephews almost every summer for several decades and many stayed for a year or longer to fully experience life in the United States.

Tilis enjoyed the holidays and family get-togethers. She always enjoyed Christmas as an opportunity to host a formal elegant dinner for her entire extended family. Traditions were important to her, and she made it a holiday tradition to prepare and serve her family’s secret eggnog recipe. But, paramount, was the opportunity to spend time with her family. She fully embraced the latin ethos of prioritizing family and friends above all else. She had a special passion for supporting children and helping them realize opportunities for personal growth.

Tilis and Ronn both felt a strong passion to support those family members who may have needed a little extra support. Tilis always had room in their heart and home for anyone that needed extra support. Tilis and Ron were always benevolent in supporting the arts and local charities, but, most importantly, they always made the time to welcome someone into their home and enjoy a chance to connect through conversation.

Tilis always had a great love of the arts.  She was a great supporter of the Figge Art Museum, Putnam Museum, Quad City Symphony, and the Catholic Service Board.  Tilis spoke English, Spanish, and French and enjoyed meeting regularly with her French Group until Covid changed life for everyone.  She was very proud to pass on her love of Mexico and the Spanish language to her children and her grandchildren but was also very honored to eventually become an American citizen. 

Those left to carry on Tilis’ memory are her son and daughter-in-law, Dr. R. Michael and Isabel Hofmann, of Ada, Michigan; grandchildren: Benjamin, Alexis, and Brandon; a brother, Franz R. Erdmann, of Mexico; a cousin, Cita Von Bertrap, also of Mexico; and many adoring nieces and nephews both in the United States and Mexico.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Edith Marie Hofmann, her parents, and siblings: Mercedes “KiKi” Kunkel, Ralph R. Erdmann, Bartolo Rodriguez-Erdmann, Juan Rodriguez-Erdmann.  May they rest in peace.