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Obituary
Anne Marie Thornton, 54, of Riverview, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday, June 25th.
Anne was born on November 7th, 1968, to Geraldine and Raphael Frendo. She was the last of ten siblings and is survived by Linda and Bob, Donna and Frank, Susie and Bill, Joe and Melissa, Marie and Rick, Paul and Maria, and Nancy and Billy. The Frendo family owned and operated JoBee's drive-in on Fort St. in Riverview from 1959-1993. The Thornton family lived behind JoBee's, and at eleven years old, Anne began a relationship with Dale Thornton, the love of her life and partner for more than forty years. The two married in October 1988 at St. Pius Parish in Southgate. They were married for 35 years. Anne was grateful for the guidance and love of the Thornton family, Beverly and Leotis Thornton, and their children Ken and Sally, Kathy and Mark, Karen and Brian, Kurt and Rick, and Craig and Donna.
Anne and Dale welcomed their first child, Nicolas (Nick) Thornton, on May 19th, 1993, and their second, Mary Thornton, on May 27th, 1995. Anne and Dale, a hairdresser and survey crew chief, respectively, considered parenting their most important and rewarding job. Anne worked as a hairdresser after graduating from vocational beauty school in 1986 and worked at Wyandotte's superior cut for over 20 years. During that time, she built a loyal community of customers, watching their children and families grow over the many years she cut their hair.
As her friends, family, and customers knew, Anne had a wicked sense of humor and a silly story to share. She had the innate ability to talk to anyone, making them feel comfortable, seen, and affirmed. Anne survived many hardships in her earliest days, but she did not let these difficulties define her. Instead, she worked tirelessly to break cycles of abuse and love everyone she met with bravery, tenacity, and unparalleled generosity.
The Thornton family was heavily involved in community theater, doing shows with DYPAC, Southgate Community Players, Downriver Actors Guild, and Taylor Youth Theater. The Thornton family made many lifelong friends and even more beautiful memories through performances, cast parties, and summer camp shows. Anne was incredibly grateful for the time she shared with Hilary and Lynn Jimenez, Mary Zaleski, Alexa Mertz, Isabella and Matt Kowal, and Legend Peetz among others.
A mother to everyone she met, Anne also worked as an in-home nanny for many years. She took great joy in being a part of her great nieces and nephews' lives, especially Ashlynn, Presley, Gavin, Ameer, Malek, Sumaya, Landon, Scarlett, Mila, and Athena.
Anne always made the people around her feel special, loved, and important. She welcomed new friends and family with open arms, especially Nick's husband Nicky Mendelsohn, his parents Marc and Cathy, brother Jimmy, and extended family. The celebrations and holidays they shared in Chicago were highlights of the last six years for the Thornton family. She was also so grateful for the friends Mary made along her journey to become a speech pathologist, especially Jessica Beachnau and Lauren McDaniel.
She is survived by a rich web of family and friends who will miss her dearly and remember her fondly. Anne would want the people she loved to remember the funny, bright, electric woman who went out of her way to make your day brighter.
There will be a celebration of life on Friday, June 30th from 11am-3pm at Crystal Gardens Banquet Hall (16703 Fort St, Southgate, MI.)
Instead of flowers, the family requests that you donate to The Guidance Center, specifying Kids - TALK CAC, a cause and organization Anne felt strongly about.
