Helen M Thorne

Helen Mary Thorne, age 91, passed away on June 8, 2019 at The Lakes Memory Care Facility in Banning, California. She resided at The Lakes while on hospice care for the last 4 months of her life. Her death was related to end stage dementia.

She was born on May 29, 1928 in New York City, New York and grew up in the Bronx. She graduated from Walton High School, exclusively for girls. She lived with her parents George Peter Zucker and Matilda Josephine Henningsen until she married in 1951. She married John James Thorne at Saint James Episcopal Church in New York City and they were together for 53 years. She worked as a secretary in New York City until they began a family in the state of Ohio.

She went on to live in Massachusetts, Florida and Georgia before settling in California in 1977. She served alongside her husband during these years as a housewife, homemaker, PTA member, ladies clubs participant and business owner. In 1980 she began working for the City of Riverside as an administrative secretary in the Park and Recreation Department She also served her community of Riverside, where she resided, during this time in countless council meetings as a stenographer.

She retired from the City of Riverside in 1993 after her move to a retirement community in 1987, Sun Lakes Country Club, in Banning, California. During her retirement years she enjoyed interior decorating, gardening, painting, stained glass projects, and a variety of arts and crafts classes. She also traveled with her husband on cruises and bus tours and enjoyed social outings regularly in their community together. When widowed in 2004 she continued to engage with the ladies at Sun Lakes in the Friendship Club, 80’s Club and Social Singles Club and as a volunteer with administrative duties.

She always remained passionate with her creativity, preventative health orientation and entertainment that stimulated her mind and spirit. She loved crossword puzzles and word games. She shared a love for nature with her family and especially for birds. Her outstanding attributes were kindness, strength, independence, laughter and wit, inspiration, beauty, joy and ever loving care. She was a reminder of traditions and taught that family comes first.

Adored Wife, Beloved Mother and Admired Grandmother.

Helen is survived by daughter Kristina Hamann and former son-in-law Steve Hamann; son Doug Thorne and daughter-in-law Patsy Thorne; daughter Barb Price and son-in-law James Price; grandchildren Christian Price, Garrett Thorne ,Dana Hamann, Nicole Thorne, Vincent Thorne and great-grandson Ezra Price.

Graveside Service will be held on Thursday, June 20, at 10:31am at Riverside National Cemetery.