Lillian Mae Thorpe

She and her four siblings grew up during the Depression. Yet, because of the strong work ethic of her parents, their garden and her Mother’s canning, there was always food on the table.

Lillian’s Mother also made sure that her daughters had piano lessons, walked with shoulders back, head held high and knew the proper way to set a table as part of their polishing as young ladies.

Lillian attended Poughkeepsie City schools and later received nurse’s aide training at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. She later returned to Poughkeepsie to raise her daughter, Dorita. It was during her employment at St. Francis Hospital that she met her second husband, LeRoy Thorpe. They had two children, Laroy and Dorcas.

Lillian and her husband went on to work at the Hudson River Psychiatric Center which she retired from after 26 years.

Many knew of Lillian’s creative skills, namely painting, crocheting and poetry. She also had enjoyed piano, roller skating, ice skating, snow shoeing, baseball and softball. But she truly loved to dance! She and a childhood friend would “take the floor” at legendary clubs in Harlem.

Lillian also learned masonry and gardening skills from her father. She was so skilled at it, that in later years her cousin Roger would call Los Angeles and say “Dorita you’d better talk to your Mama. She’s trying to tell me how to trim these hedges.”

Yet, it was employment at the State hospital that afforded a life changing blessing. Her husband’s friend and workmate, James Canada, began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and shared that with him. LeRoy wanted that for his family. It was the understanding of Bible truths, love and appreciation for Jehovah God that moved Lillian, LeRoy and her daughter Dorita to symbolize their dedication by water baptism in November, 1966.

Lillian was widowed in 1979 and continued to raise her remaining children, Laroy and Dorcas who later were baptized. Lillian joined her daughter Dorita and son in law Joe in Los Angeles, CA in 2013.

Lillian was very comfortable starting conversations with people and leaving encouraging, positive thoughts which often included directing them to her God, Jehovah.

She was predeceased by her husband, LeRoy Thorpe, parents Jacob and Elizabeth Strange, siblings Norman Strange, Constance Morton, Dolly Sanford and Joan Edmonds, nephews Marshall Anderson and Norman Moore. She is survived by her children Dorita(Joe) Tuttle-Cheatham, Laroy (April) Thorpe and Dorcas (Dray) Wolf, grandchildren Julius Nix, Dorcas Nix, Tabitha Nix, Jacob Nix and Larissa Thorpe, 6 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, April 5, 2024 from 4-7 PM at Dignity Memorials 1016 W 164th St. Gardena, CA 90247. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 Pacific time at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1610 W. Vernon Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90062. Zoom Coordinates are: ID 409 236 2626 PW 048274. Interment at 9:00 AM April 8, 2024 Inglewood Cemetery Garden of Chimes 720 E. Florence Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301