Obituary of JoAnne Gorman

JoAnne DeLaney Hopkins Gorman, 89, of Cortland, New York, passed away peacefully at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center on November 24, 2024. She was surrounded by her six loving children and many family members and friends. JoAnne was born in Syracuse, New York, to the late Paul L. and Margaret D. Hopkins. She attended The Convent School in Syracuse and went on to Syracuse University, where she was Vice President of the Omirron chapter of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and was selected to represent the School of Education as marshal for her graduating class of 1956. She received a Bachelor of Science degree. JoAnne met Francis L. Gorman, Jr. (Brud), of Homer, New York, at Syracuse University. They married in 1958 and raised their children in Homer. JoAnne taught in Central New York public schools for over thirty-six years, at Moses DeWitt Elementary School for two and a half years and Groton Elementary School for thirty-four years. JoAnne was engaged in her community throughout her life. She was a member of St. Mary's Church in Cortland and a former member of St. Margaret's Church in Homer, where she was active in the Altar Rosary Society. She was a life member of the YWCA, a former board member of the 1890 House Museum in Cortland, and a member of the Hospital Aid Society, the RSVP Volunteers, the Cortland Chamber of Commerce, the Cortland Repertory Theatre, the New York State Teacher's Association, and the Cortland Regional Medical Auxiliary. She has served on the Advisory Board of the Cortland County Office for Aging. She was a loyal Syracuse Orange sports fan, a natural comedian, a quintessential matriarch, and a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, mentor, teacher, and friend. JoAnne was predeceased by her husband, her parents, her brother Paul L. Hopkins, Jr., and three nephews. She is survived by her six children, Sheila (James) Steffel (Grand Haven, MI), Francis L. Gorman, III (Rochester, NY), M. Keefe (Susan) Gorman (Skaneateles, NY), Dr. Margaret D. Gorman (Wilmington, NC), Julia C. Gorman (Ithaca, NY), and Catherine (Charles) Wolf (Park City, UT), along with her twenty-one grandchildren, her sister Mrs. John (Sheila) Ryan of Rochester, New York, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitation hours will be Saturday, November 30 at 9:30 a.m., followed by a mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Margaret's Catholic Church in Homer, NY. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Cortland Community Foundation or to St. Mary's School in Cortland to honor JoAnne's memory. For guest book, please visit https://wright-beard.com/tribute/details/5125/JoAnne-Gorman/obituary.html#tribute-start