ALLEN, Margaret Rita Teresa (Rooney) Affectionately known as "Peggy", passed into the loving arms of The Lord on July 20, 2010 at her home in Canton, Michigan. Born on April 12, 1922 on Prince Edward Island, Maritime Provinces, Canada, to Margaret and Phillip Rooney, she immigrated with her family to the Boston area where she remained through high school. Peggy graduated from St. Patrick's of Watertown, Mass. in 1941 and joined the U. S. Navy where she served in the Pacific. She remained in California after being decommissioned in 1946 in order to attend St. Mary's College but love intervened when she met Joe Allen, Naval Officer and visitor to Laguna Beach, California. A wonderful, festive courtship and romantic wedding at the Mission San Juan Capistrano soon followed. Thus began a sixty-one year marriage taking Peggy from Laguna Beach to Atlanta, Chicago, and finally Dearborn, Michigan where she spent 50 years raising her six children and cultivating a multitude of cherished, lifelong friendships. Peggy lived, loved and laughed abundantly with her trademark Boston accent and fondness for song. She was a humble soul with a full heart, ready to put other's needs before her own, especially those of her family. Her beautiful blue eyes saw the world with clarity, wit and wisdom, which she was patient to share with her children, grandchildren, and friends in need. Peggy was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Church in Dearborn, the Dearborn Country Club, St. Anselm's Church, and many community organizations in Dearborn, Clearwater, Florida and Glen Lake, Michigan where she had homes. She was active, athletic, a lover of the arts and a happy traveler. Her indomitable strength and spirit saw her through her last day, and she lived a full life surrounded by family and guided by faith in God. Margaret was preceded in death by sisters Beatrice, Kathleen, Madelyn, Patricia, Lila, Teresa; brothers Joseph, Phillip, Eugene, and Albert; and husband Albert Joseph Allen, Jr. She is survived by sisters Mary MacDonald of Sun City, Arizona and Constance Van Pere of San Bruno, California; children Robert Allen (Jane) of Traverse City, Mich., Donald Allen (Charlotte) of Ann Arbor, Mich., Judith Allen (Susan) of Scotts Valley, California, Mary Livchak (Scott) of Frisco, Texas, Matthew Allen (Teri) of Plymouth, Mich., Edith Kwasnoski (Joe) of Newtown, Pennsylvania; grandchildren Justin (Laura), Jessie, Elisabeth (Zach), David, Adam, Chris, Daniel, Laura, Emma and great-grandchild Phoebe. Friends may visit at Schrader-Howell Funeral Home at 280 South Main in Plymouth, Michigan on Thursday evening, July 29, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Friday July 30 at 10:00 a.m. until Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to Alzheimer's Association , 20300 Civic Center Dr. suite 100, Southfield, Mich. 48076 or to St. Joseph Hospice, 806 Airport Blvd., Ann Arbor, Mich. 48108 . Share memories at schrader-howell.com.


Published in The Boston Globe on July 29, 2010