Amelia Thorpe (Tolman) Service Information

Amelia Thorpe (née Tolman)

November 15, 1934 - September 6, 2023

Liverpool, England - Langhorne, PA, USA 

Amelia Thorpe, a woman of deep faith and unwavering love, was born on November 15, 1934 in Liverpool, England. Her life story, full of resilience and devotion, unfolded against a backdrop of historical challenges and personal triumphs.

In the midst of the Liverpool Blitz that commenced in August 1940, Amelia, her mother Anne, and her brother George were evacuated to Wales under Operation Pied Piper, with thousands of other women and children from Liverpool. In Wales, they were embraced by a caring family living in "the castle." These young years, though marked by both wonder and difficulty, confirmed in her a resilient spirit that would remain throughout her life.

In the Victorian traditions of her mother, Amelia was raised with impeccable manners and honed her skills as an artist, and musician both playing piano and showcasing her beautiful singing voice. Her passion for music led her to occasionally grace the chorus at the Liverpool Opera. Later in life, her children would fondly recall times when she sang "too beautifully" in church, and then graced the stage singing in the New Haven Repertory Opera.

At a church dance in Liverpool, she met the love of her life, Rodney John Frederick Thorpe. Their love story was swift, and they embarked on a journey of over 50 years of marriage, a love that endured until Rodney's passing in 2013.

As a young couple in Liverpool, they welcomed first a daughter, Helen Christine, and then a son Simon Richard. Their third child, Jeanette Marie was born in Pembroke, Ontario, after the young family emigrated to Canada for Rodney’s work.

Subsequently, the Thorpe family found a home in Connecticut, where they settled to provide their children with a strong education and to support Rodney's career. During this time, Amelia passionately pursued her love for singing opera, fabric arts, painting, and the piano, all while nurturing her faith. She also enjoyed tennis and golf, hiking with the family and entertaining friends at annual holiday parties. Her children cherished her for her whimsical sense of humor and unyielding love.

Amelia's life was an unwavering testament to her dedication to her husband, her children, and her faith. A survivor of ovarian cancer in her 40s, Amelia firmly believed in the grace and power of her faith. She was a devout Roman Catholic and a third-order Franciscan, finding solace and strength in her spiritual journey at many parishes over the years, and most recently at Our Lady of Grace in Langhorne, PA.

Amelia is survived by her loving and devoted children, Helen C. Thorpe, and her husband Francis X. McGowan of Morrisville, PA, Simon R. Thorpe, OFS, of Limington, Maine, Jeanette M. Thorpe of Geyserville, CA, and her cherished granddaughter, Dianna Marie Thorpe of Carmel, Maine.

Amelia’s family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 13, 2023 from 11:00am until her Funeral Mass 11:30AM in the Chapel at Our Lady of Grace Church, 225 Bellevue Avenue Langhorne, PA 19047.  Her interment will follow at Our Lady of Grace Cemetery.

Amelia's memory will forever serve as an enduring source of inspiration for all who had the privilege of sharing in her love and grace. May her soul find eternal peace, and may her legacy of faith, love, and resilience continue to shine brightly in the hearts of those she touched.

"Those we love remain with us, for love itself lives on.”

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