Audrey Pauline Thorne transitioned into eternal rest on Tuesday, June 2, 2015. Audrey was born on October 20, 1918 to proud parents Iris Lord O’Dell and Arthur Paul O’Dell in Mahaica, Guyana, South America.
Sadly, six weeks after her birth, Audrey’s father, Paul, succumbed to the Spanish Flu along with many members of the O’Dell family. Upon her husband’s death, Audrey’s mother, Iris O’Dell, returned to the Lord family home where her doting grandfather, Edward Stanley Lord, Esq. became the influential male figure in Audrey’s life.
Audrey lived in Mahaica until the age of eleven. She left Mahaica to attend Trinity High School in Georgetown, Guyana. Following graduation, Audrey was accepted into St Joseph’s Covent, also in Georgetown, Guyana for further studies and later attended Business and Secretarial School in Georgetown. After completing her education, Audrey worked with Booker Brothers Drug Store as a Secretary.
In 1940, Audrey met her dashing young man Duncan J. Vivian Thorne and in 1942 they were united in marriage. Audrey and her husband came to the United States in 1944 where her husband pursued further studies in dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania and she studied at the Pohs Institute in New York while working with an insurance company on Wall Street. She obtained her license in real estate and was a successful real estate broker. Audrey and her husband were known to be gracious hosts as their home was always open to entertain family, friends and numerous dignitaries. Audrey’s husband, Vivian, passed in 1996.
Throughout her life, Audrey Thorne believed in helping others achieve a better life for themselves and their families. She was active in many civic, cultural and community organizations including the Utopia Children’s Day Care Center where she served as its treasurer for 17 years. She was an active member of the Dental Wives Auxiliary serving as president for 4 years. It was doing her tenure as president that the Auxiliary raised funds to support a school for troubled boys. Audrey Thorne was a charter member of the Bands of Steel, a group dedicated to giving underprivileged children a chance to use their musical skills in an organized manner.
In 1950, Audrey Thorne became a member of The Links, Incorporated. The mission of this organization is to enhance the quality of life in the larger community where members reside. She served as Treasurer for over 30 years and President as well as Chairman of the organization’s Easter fundraising event. She dedicated herself to the goals and was actively involved in all program facets of the organization. She was a mentor, trailblazer and a visionary member for new and seasoned members of the organization. Audrey helped integrate suburban neighborhoods. She remembers this involvement as being quite challenging but equally rewarding.
Later, Audrey became a union organizer with the hotel/motel club employees union which she loved because she interacted with people of all creeds and culture. She later became Executive Assistant to the Union President. She and her husband were social activists who cared about people and were deeply committed to providing meaningful service to help others.
Audrey Thorne was an active member for almost 20 years of the First Presbyterian Church in New York City.
She once wrote, “God has blessed me with manageable health as I still am able to carry out my goals and aspirations. …during these golden years of my life I wish to spend time, energy, effort, love and devotion with my close family and dear friends. I thank God because He has been very good to me and my husband”.
Preceding her in death was her father, Arthur Paul, mother, Iris and husband, Vivian. She is survived by many relatives and friends, including her cousins: Babsie Hinds, Joyce Bradford, Sony Lord, Iris Backer, Cynthia (John) Wayne, George (Michelle) Gravesande, Maxwell (Gloria) Hines, Barbara Earlyne Lord (Myron, MD) Watkins, E. A. R. Lord (Mildred), Jr., MD, Charles L. B. Lord, DDS, Paul A. U. (Joyce) Lord, Esq., Patricia Lord Kane, Garth(Gabriel) Isaacs, Yvette Isaacs, Cynthia Watkins (Mark, MD) Clanton, Elizabeth Watkins (Charles) Goodman, Myron (Annette) Watkins, Jr., Lisa Lord (Michael) Pearson, E. A. R. (Dawn) Lord, III, MD, Adria Lord, Jonathan (April) Lord, Charles L. B.(Patty) Lord, III, Sabrina Lord, Jennifer Lord, Amy Lord, Paul A. U. (Joyce) Lord, Jr., Katherine Kane, MD, and Reverend Doctor Maria Kane. God-daughter: Ann Marie Watkins (Charles, MD) Wallace; brother-in-law: Dr. Michael (Sandra) Thorne; sister-in-law: Aileen Callender; nephews: Hugh Thorne, Timothy Thorne, Christopher Thorne, Jonathan Thorne and Victor Thorne; nieces: Jan Callender and Christine Thorne; and, very close and dear friends: Dr. Marcella Maxwell, Mildred Frederick, Nancy Nelson, Linda Burrell, and a host of devoted family and friends residing in the US, Canada and the UK. The family wishes to acknowledge Audrey’s caregivers during her illness, Isla Warde and Sonia Daley.
