Louisa E. Manhart Hoch passed away peacefully at Moravian Hall Square, after seeing her family and holding her daughter's hand, on Sunday, January 10, 2021. Born October 12, 1932 in Pottsville, she was a daughter of the late C. Earl and Ida Kienzle Manhart.

She was the loving wife of Dr. John J. Hoch who passed away on November 7, 2017.

Louisa was a registered nurse and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson Medical College, where she met her future husband, John. Together they started their medical practice in 1955 in Nazareth where Louisa did the books, the office laundry and, in the beginning, the cleaning.

She was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Nazareth where she was involved with various groups including the World Hunger committee and the food bank. As her children were growing up, she served as a Girl Scout leader, Boy Scout helper, chauffeur to their many activities, planned celebrations and organized the house that functioned as a home. She will be remembered as the best chocolate chip cookie baker; her family still uses her recipe but can never quite duplicate her fantastic results. In her spare time, Louisa could be found busy on some fiber/art craft. She enjoyed cross stitch, knitting, quilting and sewing often giving her beautiful handiwork away to her children, grandchildren and relatives. For many years she contributed over 50 pairs of mittens annually to the Nazareth Area Food Bank.

Louisa also loved traveling to New England, Jersey beaches, and many day trips visiting friends. One of her favorite trips was traveling on a sleeping train across the US to visit her son and family in Washington State.

Louisa is survived by her children, Tamara Boyhont and her husband Craig of Lititz, Krista Hontz and her husband Bill of Nazareth, and Eric Wangen Hoch and his wife Rachel of Sedro-Wooley, WA; grandchildren, Stephen and Aaron Boyhont, Lindsay Kopcak and her husband Michael, Jennifer Alves, and Elijah and Jonah Hoch; great grandchildren, Danica, Vivian and Pierson, as well as her brother, Walter Manhart of Pottsville.

Along with her husband and parents, she is predeceased by 1 sister and 3 brothers.

A walk through visitation with 10 people at a time will be held on Saturday, January 16, 2021 from 10-11 a.m. in the Schmidt Funeral Home, PC, 407 Belvidere St., Nazareth. Facial coverings and social distancing will be required. A funeral service will be held privately with the family and a burial at a later date. Memorial donations in Louisa's name may be offered to the Nazareth Area Food Bank, PO Box 178, Nazareth, PA 18064; or St. John's Lutheran Church, 200 South Broad St., Nazareth, PA 18064.