Eileen Thorpe

Eileen (née Murphy) Thorpe of Rochester passed away quietly on Thursday, August 14, surrounded by family and friends, after sustaining critical injuries in an automobile accident. Eileen was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Charles and Crystal Murphy (née Johnston) on December 4, 1947. She graduated from Golden Valley (Minnesota) High School in 1965 where she excelled academically. She attended Knox College and the University of Denver, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics.

Upon graduation, she was employed by IBM in Denver, Colorado, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1976, she married Erik Thorpe and took on the full-time roles of wife, mother, and homemaker. After living in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Plymouth, Minnesota, they moved to Rochester in 1984 and raised their family. They were blessed with three children: daughter Erin Venti of San Diego, California, and twin sons Ethan of Bozeman, Montana, and Evan of Rochester, Minnesota.

Eileen was a gregarious "kind soul" who never met a person she didn't like. Whether meeting with close friends, colleagues, or just standing in line with strangers, she was always ready with a big smile and a kind word ... the true definition of "Minnesota Nice". She had an optimistic view of life and always saw the good in people. She had many friends, and her nieces and nephews all loved their Aunt Eileen.

She loved spending time with family and relatives, especially at the cabin on Lake Crystal. Her sourdough pancakes and blueberry buckle were things of legend. She was an accomplished water skier and adventure lover including sky diving, parasailing, paddle boarding, and downhill skiing. She also had a creative side writing witty poems for family gatherings and coming up with "unique" solutions to just about any mechanical problem. Eileen enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, sudoku, and watching Hallmark movies.

Eileen is preceded in death by her sons, Ethan and Evan; parents, Charles and Crystal Murphy; brother, Timothy; and nephews Terrence and Alexander Shiota. She is survived by her loving husband, Erik Thorpe of Rochester; daughter, Erin (Brendan) Venti of San Diego, California; twin grandchildren, Everly and Brooks Venti; son, Randal (Amy) Renken of Eyota, Minnesota; brother, Michael (Jane) Murphy of Englewood, New Jersey; sisters, Kathleen (Yoshinobu) Shiota of Owings Mills, Maryland, and Jennifer (Fred) Frankenfield of Sterling, Virginia; many nieces and nephews; and black labrador retriever, Molly.

Eileen's family would like to express deep gratitude to the physicians and nurses of St. Mary's hospital and the Mayo Clinic for their care and compassion during her stay in the ICU.

Eileen's death has left a gaping hole in the lives of all who knew her. Her big blue eyes, warm smile, and readiness to chat and laugh about anything with anyone will be missed but never forgotten. We take comfort in knowing she is reunited with her boys, Ethan and Evan, surrounded by their love.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 23, 2025, at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester, Minnesota. Visitation will be at 10:00 AM, with the service following at 11:00 AM. The service will also be streamed online. To view the service, go to Eileen's obituary on the Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home website page. Interment will be at Oakwood East Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to iHope Genetic Health, a nonprofit program dear to Eileen's heart through the work of her daughter. Donations can be made online at:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donation-in-memory-of-eileen-thorpe

If by check, please mail to:

Genetic Alliance
26400 Woodfield Road #189
Damascus, MD 20872-7509
Phone: 202.966.5557
Email: sterry@geneticalliance.org

Please contact the organization directly if you prefer to donate via wire transfer or other means.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Thorpe family. To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com.