With profound gratitude for a life well lived, we share the passing of Sally Ann Lawrence Hopkins, beloved mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt, daughter, teacher and friend; avid traveler, volunteer, and student who passed away peacefully on June 4th, 2025, at the age of 84, surrounded by loved ones.
Born June 26, 1940, in Middletown Connecticut, Sally was an intrepid adventurer and dedicated family member and friend. She will be remembered for her quick wit, unquenchable curiosity and always telling it like it is. She never veered away from hard truths and was unafraid of pointing out those truths to others.
Sally married the love of her life Gifford Drew Hopkins right after graduating from Hollins University. They had three daughters and purchased a farm in Cameron, New York, creating an idyllic life for their three girls roaming the woods, streams and fields with their horses and dogs. Eventually, they bought property and built a home in Nova Scotia, Canada, which, despite all her travels and deep love for the Southern Tier of New York, became Sally’s favorite place on earth. She spent every summer she could there for the next 50 years.
She taught French at Jasper and Jasper-Troupsburg High School for many years, long enough to teach the grandchildren of some of her original students and made a life-long connection with many of her students. Honoring her love of adventure, language and diverse cultures, she took students traveling to France, Quebec, South America, and beyond – exposing them to the world. In addition, she taught classes at Empire State College and ultimately retired from her high school teaching career as a French and Spanish teacher at Canisteo Central High School. She maintained a childlike curiosity and wonder throughout her life – always seeking new knowledge and new experiences, getting a nursing degree after retiring, traveling the world and auditing a wide range of classes at Alfred University.
Sally lived in Jasper for years before settling in her lovely home in Alfred, quickly becoming an integral member of the community, known by one and all as the lady who would get out and walk in any weather. Sally’s walks were punctuated by playing with every dog, cooing over every baby and talking to every person she passed. She was a member of both the Universalist Unitarian Church and the Union University Church, volunteered with the Alfred Area Food Pantry and Hart Comfort House, was an active member of multiple book clubs and the AAUW, donated and volunteered for many good causes, enjoyed music, art and theater and was an avid reader.
Over the course of her lifetime, Sally traveled the world, witnessing the northern lights in Alaska and Norway, traveling the Amazon River, climbing the pyramids in Egypt, swimming in the South Pacific Ocean off Fiji, hiking in Iceland in her late 70’s and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef just a year ago at the age of 83.
Sally is preceded in death by her husband, Giff; her granddaughter, Maggie; her parents, Howard and Elizabeth; and her siblings George and Alice. She is survived by her daughters, Karen, Anne and Jennifer, and her grandchildren, Henry, Katie and Ella.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Hart Comfort House in Wellsville or a local animal shelter of your choice.
A celebration of her life will be held at the Union University Church in Alfred at 4:00 pm on Saturday, June 14th with a reception at the Church Center across the street to follow.
Sally will forever remain in our hearts as an inspiration to live life to the fullest and take advantage of every opportunity to gain new knowledge and connect deeply with all who cross our paths.
