Rose Thorne, affectionately known as Ms. Rose, made her final transition the morning of Thursday, July 25, 2024 due to complications from Alzheimer’s. Ms. Rose was born in Anniston, AL on July 21, 1940 to the late Henry Bagley and Mancie Wilson Bagley. Ms. Rose graduated from Calhoun County High School. She lived in Anniston with her 11 siblings until she moved to New Haven, CT in 1961. Not long after moving to New Haven, Rose met and married her lifetime partner and love, Eddie L. Thorne.
Ms. Rose and Mr. Eddie were anchors in the Newhallville community of New Haven where they lived, worked, raised their family, and worshipped. Ms. Rose held several jobs while living in New Haven, including positions at Seamless Rubber Company, Circuit Wise, and The Jewish Home for the Aged, but her most cherished roles were wife and mother to her three children, Alan B. Thorne, Sr., Sheila Edmonds, and Rodney Thorne.
Ms. Rose often expressed her love through caretaking, which you could taste in her cooking! She was renowned for her mac n’ cheese, candied yams, pound cake, rainbow cake, 4‑layer chocolate and banana cakes, and the list goes on. Ms. Rose enjoyed cooking for her family, church friends, and especially for her husband — who she would cook lunch for each day while he worked next-door in his barbershop. She was a devout member of Community Baptist Church and a member of the Order of Eastern Star where she reached the pinnacle level as Worthy Matron. Ms. Rose had a love for seeing others succeed, and she spent much of her time supporting her husband, children, and grandchildren as they pursued their dreams and academic endeavors. While she did not attend college herself, she helped clear a pathway for her children by enrolling them in excellent schools while providing support and guidance as they earned their degrees.
Rose Thorne is preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mancie Bagley; nine siblings, Frank Bagley, Nellie Ree Satcher, Walter Bagley, Leonard Bagley, Henry Bagley, Sam Bagley, Venson Bagley, Willie Wilson, and Ruby Wright; and her beloved husband. Eddie L. Thorne.
She leaves to continue her legacy her three children, Alan B. Thorne, Sr. (Francine), Sheila Edmonds (Nathaniel), and Rodney Thorne; along with five grandchildren, Shamika Lee (Martin), Stephanie Edmonds, Carolyn Collins (Marshall), Alan B. Thorne, Jr., and Danielle Thorne. Ms. Rose will also leave her mark on her great-grandchildren, Amayah Rose Lee, Gabriel Jian Lee, Marlee Jane General, and Mireille Christine Collins; as well as her two surviving siblings, Alberta Coleman and Lonzer Lee Bagley.
Ms. Rose lived a life characterized by generosity of spirit, trusting that her family would continue to find happiness and success as a result of her sacrifices. While she will be dearly and earnestly missed, we find joy in knowing that her suffering has ended and she has gone on to glory physically and spiritually whole.
A celebration of her life will be Friday, August 2, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Community Baptist Church, 143 Shelton Ave, New Haven, CT 06511. Friends may call Friday at the church from 10:00 – 11:00 AM. Interment will be at Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511. To leave a message of comfort for the Thorne family, please visit, www.hkhfuneralservices.com