Obituary of Mattie Lucile (Thorpe) Flowers
CASTLETON-ON-HUDSON –
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing at Community Hospice of an incredible woman, Matie Lucile (Thorpe) Flowers. Her husband, Joe Visalli, was with her to provide comfort during her transition. Her daughters and extended family were able to be with her in her final days. She will be remembered as “Matie of Sunnybrook Farm” for her eternal optimism, compassion for others, and wonderment of life’s beauties.
Matie was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on December 28, 1934, to Alice and Gus Thorpe. She graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree. After college, she traveled to Europe to begin her adventures, meeting and marrying an army man while on a Fulbright scholarship teaching German girls English. She had her first daughter, Tricia, in Germany and her second daughter, Kathy, in Texas.
Always ready for an adventure, Matie dove into problems affecting women and supported those around her. She spent many years with the Girl Scouts in Texas, Oklahoma, Indiana and New York serving as a role model for many young women and ending as Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York. A pioneer in many ways, she never backed away from adversity, taming it with kindness.
Matie had a lifetime interest in education. She taught at an elementary school in Colorado and later at universities in Indiana and New York. Matie earned her PhD in Social Psychology from Indiana University while raising her girls as a single mother. She became a tenured Professor of Psychology at Utica College (now Utica University) and started the College Title IX program. Later she married her life partner Joe and began a life in the Albany area. Here she worked as an adjunct professor at RPI and Russell Sage and somehow found time to earn a Masters degree in Social Work at the University of Albany.
With her PhD and MSW degrees, Matie’s last professional career was as a licensed psychologist, setting up an office in East Greenbush and helping many people over a 10 year period.
Matie was a member of the First Methodist Church of East Greenbush until she could no longer attend. She served in many volunteer roles at the church and sang in the choir. She enjoyed the outdoors, camping and hiking, visiting museums, eating Joe’s meals, and listening to and playing music. An accomplished pianist, she could play by ear and recreate anything she heard. Even when dementia set in, music brought her great joy and solace. Matie enjoyed traveling around the US and Europe together with Joe, sharing many adventures and developing a deep respect for each other.
Matie is survived by her husband, Joseph Visalli; her daughters, Tricia Kerrigan and Kathy Fontaine (Eric); and her granddaughters, Jessica Fontaine and Stephanie Fontaine. Joe will arrange for a service at her church at a later date.
We wish to thank the nurses, technicians and support staff at St. Peter’s Hospital and at Community Hospice at St. Peter’s for the wonderful care they gave her in her last week of life.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family, online at: SimpleChoicesCremation.com
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