Alice Thorpe

July 1, 1925 ~ March 25, 2022

Alice’s sparkling blue eyes will forever dance in our hearts. She always radiated warmth and class in all aspects of her life. Alice was an extraordinary hostess and had a of way making everything seem effortless, a true wonder to all who knew her. She was always available for a visit over a cup of tea or a glass of wine and loved to share a good laugh. Alice enjoyed keeping busy, staying current and maintaining quite an impressive social calendar.  She was a doer – always keeping herself and those around her motivated, with encouragement and enthusiasm. Born July 1, 1925 in Hafford, SK, Alice was the oldest of four children. As a young woman, Alice enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army during WWII. After the war, she took a job at IBM in Toronto, and discovered she was a natural at ballroom dancing. Alice remained there until returning home to care for her dad. While back in Prince Albert, she met George (at a dance!), and the two were married in 1953. At that time Thorpe Brothers Ltd. was a fledgling company and succeeded in no small part due to the supporting role Alice and her sisters-in-law played. As the company grew, so did their family. Being a stay at home wife and mother was important to Alice, but she sought out and seized opportunities to meet new people and became involved with the Anglican Church Women for 67 years, Beta Sigma Phi, Kinettes, K40, IODE, and Meals on Wheels for 32 years, all while her children were growing up. Alice participated in bowling and golf, where she was a member of Cooke Municipal Ladies Golf Club for 45 years. She was honoured to co-chair the Canadian Ladies’ Amateur Golf Tournament in Prince Albert in 1976. Alice and George were proud supporters of Prince Albert, both enriching the community through many years of volunteer service and feeling enriched by the community. They enjoyed travel, golf and lake-living together. They made connections with many life-long and cherished friends in the 58 wonderful years they shared together, until George’s passing in 2011. Alice was a supporter and patron of visual and performing arts and loved going to Raider hockey games. She thoroughly enjoyed the game of bridge, and even hosted her group’s Christmas party last year. Alice loved flowers and gardening. Her vegetable garden was the source of canning, pickling and preserving, which she continued right up to last summer.  She’ll be lovingly remembered for her welcoming home, her creative talents and her culinary skills, much to the enjoyment of her family, friends, and any tradesmen who were lucky enough to be assigned the call to her house. Her three grandchildren made her proud and brought her so much joy, and we are fortunate she created lasting memories with all six of her great grandchildren. Alice Thorpe passed away with strength, grace and peace on March 25, 2022 in Prince Albert, SK.  Alice will be lovingly remembered by her sister Helen Thorpe, son Bill (Julie) Thorpe, son Don (Margie, and children, Chelsey and Joshua Hansen) Thorpe and daughter and accomplice Betty Thorpe, along with grandchildren John (Carolene, and children Violet and Sullivan) Thorpe, Leah (Karl, and children Wynn and Cali) Phillips, and Colin (Jill, and children Logan and Cori) Thorpe, numerous nieces and nephews, and some very dear friends. She was predeceased by her husband George, her parents Adam and Antonia Hotzak, brothers Zane Hotzak and Anthony Hotzak, and Margie’s son Jesse Doucette. With help from Dr. Gordon Surkan, Dr. Iley-Haynes and Dr. Louie Kriel, Alice was able to enjoy good health up to her 96th year. With the help of the compassionate nursing staff on the 5th floor of the Victoria Hospital, Alice was given thoughtful and attentive care when her health declined.  To all, thank you for looking after our Mom. We already miss our conversations with her, her helpful advice on just about anything, and those smiling blue eyes. How lucky are we to be the ones they sparkled for!

A Celebration of Life and reception will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday April 6, 2022 at Plaza 88, 888 Central Avenue, Prince Albert, SK, with the Reverend Dr. Norbert Haukenfrers officiating. In lieu of other tributes, memorial donations may be made to Canadian Cancer Society, 200 – 325 Manning Road NE, Calgary, AB T2E 2P5 or St. David’s Anglican Church, 500 24 Street East, Prince Albert, SK  S6V 1S2. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca.   Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306) 922-4729.

• Date : 2022-03-25
• Location : Prince Albert, SK