NORWICH – Carol Jane Hoffman, 79, passed away on September 19, 2016 at her home in Norwich. Born in Smyrna, New York on April 17, 1937 to the late Glenn and Retha Law, she was the fourth of fifteen children.
She was employed for 35 years at the Norwich Shoe Company as a pattern and mold maker. She was later employed at Unison Industries for nearly 10 years as an assembler before her retirement in 1999. Throughout her employment, she took great pride in her work always paying close attention to detail to ensure the work was done correctly.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Joseph Hoffman of Norwich; her children, James Hoffman of So. Plymouth and Kimberly Gannon of New Hampshire; their spouses Eileen Hoffman and Paul Gannon; seven grandchildren, Tyler, Adrian and Jacob Hoffman of So. Plymouth and Liam, Jürgen, Eva and Claudia Gannon of New Hampshire.
Her passion was her family, always a devoted wife and loving mother. Her second greatest passion was her music. Growing up on a farm with a talented and musical family, her love for gospels, bluegrass and country and western became deep rooted in her as a young girl. With the influence of her father and sister Aldena, she was inspired to buy her first guitar (Kay Guitar) in 1952.
She began singing professionally at the age of 15 with her sister Aldena who was 13 years old after being recognized at a barn dance in Oxford, New York by Barefoot Bob Kinney. They were known as the Law Sisters in the Norwich, Cortland and surrounding areas. In 1953, the Law Sisters appeared as guests with the Trail Blazers at the Norwich Grange Hall and began singing weekly at the Loomis Hay Loft with the Green Valley Boys in South Otselic, New York. In 1954 and 1955, the Law Sisters appeared with the stage band at the Rainbow Park in Binghamton, New York with musical artists such as Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Osborne Brothers and Little Jimmy Dickens (to name a few). In 1954 as the Law Sisters’ singing career began to progress to a new level, Carol Jane bought her second guitar (Martin Guitar). In 1955, the Law Sisters appeared with the “Barefoot Bob Show,” featuring Dick Boise, Lois Tracey, Charlie Hughes, Speedy West, Smokey Brownell and the band. In that same year (1955), the Law Sisters also sang on the radio station WCHN in Norwich, New York with the “Barefoot Bob Show” and on the radio station WKRT in Cortland, New York with the “Tex Robard Band.”
In 1955, Hard Rock Gunner put on a show at the Colonial Theater in Norwich, New York. The Law Sisters got an opportunity to sing for him after the show and because of their natural talent, were invited to sing on his show in Wheeling, West Virginia.
In 1980, she went to Nashville, Tennessee to record her first single album. The two songs featured included, “Cookie Jar” and “You Can’t Feel the Way I Do.” Charlie McCoy, the Lee Jane Singers and his road band backed her up with the music and back-up vocals. In 1981, Carol Jane recorded her second album that included two original songs written by Ben Tameo from Sidney, New York. The two songs featured were, “Where Does She End and Where Do I Begin” and “Dial (607)563-2338.”
In 1980, she also performed at Mickey Gilley’s with Charlie McCoy and in that same year, won “Single of the Year” honored by the N.Y.S. Country Music Association at the Courtroom in Utica, New York. In 2000, she was asked to be an opener for the Loretta Lynn Show at the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame.
In 2012, she was inducted into the Hall of Honor at the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame and in 2014, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
The music had continued to go on in her life. She had spent the last 15 years in Florida during the winter months with her husband Joseph and occasionally made appearances in a large retirement community known as “The Villages” in Lady Lake, Florida as well as other local venues.
She also enjoyed travelling, playing cards, gardening, sewing/crafts/soap-making, dancing and spending time with her family especially cooking meals at the holidays. She was an avid sports fan of her grandchildren and enjoyed cheering for them at sporting events.
Calling hours will be held at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home, 116 N. Broad Street Norwich, NY 13815 on Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 10-12 pm. A funeral service will follow at 12 pm at the funeral home with Rev. Nancy Hale, pastor of Broad St. United Methodist Church officiating. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the burial directly after the funeral at the Plymouth, NY Cemetery on Saturday, September 24, 2016 followed by a reception at the Plymouth Fire Station. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the ALS Association at www.alsa.org in the name of Carol Jane Hoffman.