Our dearly loved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Carol Hoppey, 81, died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones after a brief illness on February 24, 2021. Carol’s legacy and life is difficult to capture in just a few paragraphs because of her wide-ranging impact.
Carol Byrne was born a twin in Norwich, NY. Upon graduating from Hartwick College, Carol moved to Port Jervis, NY, to begin her legendary 27-year career as a math teacher at PJHS. Here she met the love of her life, Thomas Hoppey, to whom she was happily married for 57 years. While in Port Jervis, Carol’s love of family and community stood out. She believed in helping others and lived this daily. She shared with us how inspired she was by her many former students who chose to follow her into the teaching profession.
Carol’s faith was quietly evident in her daily life. She was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, where she was the religious education supervisor for 25 years. Carol also spearheaded the church’s Christmas Food Basket program. Her faith was an inspiration to all who knew her.
Spending time with family and friends was a daily celebration. She enjoyed playing bridge, poker, and Mahjong with good friends; was a proud member of the Ball Street Gang; was a ferocious reader; and cherished her time with her kids, grandkids, great grandkids, and many nieces and nephews. She loved her annual snow birding in Cocoa Beach, FL, enjoying the sunshine and beach with family and friends. She also treasured the many family gatherings over the years in Jekyll Island, GA; Big Bay Lake, MS; and of course, Port Jervis.
Carol took great pride in her family. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Thomas, of Port Jervis, and her children, David (wife Diane), Trish, Elizabeth (husband Glen), and Michael (wife Leigh). Her grandchildren were her world: Caran Mullins, Billy Silva, Kevin Hoppey, Dave and Owen Myatt, Jami Nelson, Megan and Samantha Fredericks and Nick Hoppey. She adored her great grandchildren, Noah and Lyla Mullins and Lydia Nelson. Carol is also survived by her twin Cis Sherwood, and their siblings Beverly Byrne, and Charlene Decker (Gary) and her brother, Joe Byrne (Barbara), as well as many nieces and nephews.
Carol was predeceased by her parents, Ruth and Robert Byrne, and her brother, Patrick Byrne, and her beloved in-laws, Thomas and Irene Hoppey, as well as Dick and Jean Van Sickle.
A Memorial Service and celebration of life will be held in early June in Port Jervis, NY. Funeral services by Gray-Parker Funeral Home, Inc., 100 E. Main St., Port Jervis, NY 12771, 845.856.5191, www.grayparkerfuneralhome.com
In her life, Carol was guided by her faith and belief in the power of education. In her honor, the family is establishing the Carol and Tom Hoppey Memorial Scholarship to be given annually to a PJHS graduating senior who will study education. If you would like to make a donation to honor our mother, please consider giving to either the scholarship or the Port Jervis Elks Children’s Christmas Project. Information is listed below.
Carol and Tom Hoppey Memorial Scholarship
c/o Marian Cooper Community Foundation
310 Prospect Hill Rd.
Cuddebackville, NY 12729
BPOE #645 Children’s Christmas Project
PO Box W
Port Jervis, NY 12771
Our beautiful Carol will be missed by all who knew and loved her, and there are so many. Knowing that she is free and at peace is the comfort we all need. Thank you to all of Carol’s family and friends that have shared great stories. We know how much you all loved her, and it is great comfort to us all. The world is a better place for Carol being in it. She was one of a kind, and we are so blessed that she died as she lived: secure in her faith and surrounded by love. May her memory be a blessing to us all.