Julie Rolande Thorne

STRAFFORD - Julie Rolande (Sanfacon) Thorne died at home with her husband Jeff by her side in the early morning of Wednesday, May 11, 2016, after a 7-year battle with cancer.

She was born June 28, 1955, in Rochester, the daughter of the late Walter and Rolande (Ferland) Sanfacon. Julie was raised in Rochester and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1973. She started working at Tri State Gas in high school, which is where she met her husband, Jeffrey. She married Jeff on May 20, 1978, at Holy Rosary Church in Rochester. Tri State Gas eventually became Eastern Propane & Oil. She took some time off from Eastern when her children were born, and worked a short time at Beranger Volkswagen and Dick Poulin Chevrolet. She eventually went back to Eastern Propane full time, and was still employed there at the time of her death, as a Meter Support Specialist. She worked at Eastern Propane for over 32 years.

Julie was very active with her children during their school days. She and Jeff did lots of traveling with Girls' basketball, both high school and AAU (Amateur Athletic Union). They also followed the kids in soccer.

Julie was diagnosed with GIST (Gastro Intestinal Stromal Tumor) in May 2009. At the time, it was and remains a rare and incurable form of cancer. She felt fortunate to live so close to Boston and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This made cutting edge treatment modalities and surgeries readily available to her. Because of this she continued to live her seven-year warrior battle with the disease. She very bravely fought GIST, had a number of surgeries, tried new trials, and fought hard to the very end. Her husband Jeff was by her side for it all. He was her nurse, cook, housekeeper, shopper, as well as her very best friend. Her sister, Claire and her husband Gerry, have been part of her support team from day one, and have made several trips to Dana Farber with them. The four of them were very close.

Julie was so happy when her daughter, Jocelyn, had their first grandchild, Liam, on January 8, 2012. She enjoyed her trips to Florida with them, as well as their visits here. When she learned her youngest daughter, Jenna, was pregnant, she believed it was an act of God. She was ecstatic and believed God knew how much time she had left and wanted to make sure she would meet Maddie. Madeleine Rose was born on January 1, 2015. Julie was able to make one trip to California to visit their family. Julie was so pleased her son, Jared, was able to be home to be by her side as co-caretaker with his Dad.

Julie loved her family and wished they all lived closer so she could see them more often. Her grandchildren were the joy of her life. She also loved her dogs. Julie, Jeff, Jared, Jocelyn, and Jenna all had the "JRT" initials. Their dogs did as well, (Jeb, Jackie, Joe and Jada).

Julie was a member of Holy Rosary Parish, Rochester, N.H. She enjoyed stamping, ceramics, and quilting. She was a frequent QVC shopper. She loved clothes, jewelry, handbags, shoes as well as Jim Shore Collectibles.

Members of her family are her husband Jeffrey Thorne , children, Jared Thorne of Chicago, Ill., Jocelyn Wilson and spouse Seth of Winter Haven, Fla., Jenna Slezak and spouse Matt of Corona, Calif., grandchildren, Liam Wilson, of Fla. and Madeleine Slezak of Calif.; sisters, Claire Bisaillon and her husband Gerry, Linda Hussey and her husband George, all of Rochester; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Chuck and Pat Clement, Rochester and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Peter and Belinda Thorne, Strafford and her Aunt Alice Ferland, as well as several nieces and nephews. The Clement family, Chuck and Pat, Chuck and Enid, Meghan and Josh, were a special part of her life. They did so much to help Jeff and Julie during her illness.

A special thanks to her oncologist, Dr. Suzanne George and her team at Dana Farber Center, as well as her oncology surgeon, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli of Brigham and Women's Hospital. She did not start hospice care until May 5, and was given great care from Cornerstone VNA for the last five days.

SERVICES: Family and friends may visit Tuesday, May 17, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main Street, Rochester, N.H. The funeral mass will be held at Holy Rosary Church, 189 North Main Street, Rochester, N.H., Wednesday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Private family burial will take place in the Caverly Cemetery in Strafford, N.H.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Julie, to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, GIST Research Fund, Box 849168, Boston, Mass., 02284 and write Julie's name on the memo line. To sign the online guestbook, please go to www.edgerlyfh.com.