Dr. India Helen Imperatore

India Imperatore of New London, PA, passed away on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, suddenly at her home, “the farm” where she lived for over 30 years.

Born on April 18, 1956, in Englewood, NJ, to the late Helen Emma Imperatore (Turner) and Arthur E. Imperatore, Sr., India spent her early years in Bergen County.  At a young age, she found a love for animals, the water, music, and knowledge.  She majored in Classical Languages at New York University and spent her early twenties traveling, rebuilding a sailboat and riding horses.  India attended veterinary school at the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated in 1991 and earned her V.M.D.   She loved animals of all shapes and sizes, but particularly horses. She started a private practice and worked at Delaware Park Racetrack and Fair Hill Training Center for fifteen years.

India married Harry Thompson in 1992 and had two children: Emma (29) and Olivia (27). After the two divorced, India left the racetrack and used her knowledge and horsemanship skills to help treat horses and animals for friends, acquaintances and her daughters. 

India spent her later years exploring alternative medicine and modalities, meditating, reading, gardening, volunteering, doing conservation and political work.  She particularly enjoyed attending retreats at the Omega center in Rhinebeck, NY, planting trees with One Tree in Tampa, FL, and made tireless efforts as a volunteer, including:  Project Cure in West Grove, PA;  being an oyster citizen/scientist doing conservation work with the Billion Oyster Project restoring reefs to the NY Harbor through public education and research;  researching water quality for the City Island Yacht Club (NY) on their eDNA project; and doing political work in her community of Chester County, PA.  

She traveled often, particularly to visit family and friends in the areas surrounding NY Waterway in Weehawken, NJ, and to visit her daughters in Texas and Florida.  The farm was her sanctuary and the place she held closest to her heart. She poured her energy and time into it, constantly working on projects, both indoors and out. 

She was an incredibly kind, honest and sentimental being. She was fearless.  India worked every day to be a better person for herself, her children, and the world around her. She loved reminiscing over photographs of her life and loved ones, and often kept notes and mantras in sight and in her pockets.  She had a quirky sense of humor and immense wisdom.  She was a grounding source for her daughters, who she loved dearly and proudly. 

India is survived by her two children, Emma and Olivia; her two brothers, Armand Pohan (Nancy Reiger) and Arthur Imperatore Jr.; nieces and nephews, Andrew Pohan, Alicia Pohan (Matthew Riker), Amanda Pohan (Jason Kachadourian), Arthur Imperatore III, Alexander Imperatore, and Augusta Imperatore. 

She is predeceased by her beloved parents, Helen and Arthur; her sister-in-law, Peggy Pohan; and nephew, Justin Imperatore. 

A private service and tree planting ceremony for friends and family will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022.  For information, please contact Maureen at Lafaso@nywaterway.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree in her memory through the link provided.  Additionally, donations can be made to Billion Oyster Project (https://www.billionoysterproject.org/donate), The Blueprint (https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tbpembed), or St. Jude Hospital for Children (https://www.stjude.org/donate/).

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. India Helen Imperatore, please visit our floral store.