Monica Grace Allen, the cherished 2-year-old daughter of Megan T. Allen and Andrew Marino, passed away on July 2, 2010, after a brave battle with pulmonary hypertension. In her brief time with us, Monica cut a very wide swath, as her smile and laughter charmed everyone. Monica was also incredibly courageous and resilient, as she endured frequent surgeries and other medical procedures since birth. Monica provided her family limitless love and joy - and her precious memory will live forever in our hearts. Monica will also be fondly remembered for her love of brownies, chocolate ice cream, bananas, hummus, toast, Pediasure, and the Nick Jr. television programs Yo Gabba Gabba, Dora the Explorer, and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. Monica will be accompanied to her new home by her very special friend, Dolly. Monica is survived by her beloved parents, who treasured every moment with their little sweetheart. Also surviving are Monica's maternal grandparents, Patricia and John Allen of Bloomfield, N.Y.; her paternal grandparents, Jack and Noreen Marino of Johnstown; maternal great-grandmother, Peggy Trauger of Canandaigua; maternal great-grandmother, Alma Elko of Victor, N.Y.; maternal aunt and uncle, Stacey and Robyn Sheppard of Rochester; paternal aunt and uncle, Noreen and Neal Collins of Clifton Park; paternal aunt and uncle, Pat and Ron Robinson of Johnstown; paternal uncles, Peter Marino and Aaron Broadwell of Saratoga Springs; paternal aunt and uncle, Diana Lee and Thomas Marino of New York City; and many cousins. The family would like to thank Monica's family doctor, Theresa Viola, and the staff of Capital Care Medical Group in Schenectady; her cardiologist, Dr. Erika Berman-Rosenzweig, of the Pulmonary Hypertension Center at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City; her favorite nurse, Johnell Mitunie-wicz, also of the Pulmonary Hypertension Center at Columbia University Medical Center; the rest of the Columbia University Medical Center staff; the compassionate nursing staff of the Albany Medical Center Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; the wonderfully caring staff of Childtime Learning Center in Colonie; and all the friends and acquaintances who touched Monica's life and whose lives she brightened. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at New Comer Cannon Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Road, Colonie, NY 12205. Calling hours will precede the services from 4 to 7 p.m. Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, July 8, 2010, at Memory Gardens, 983 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Colonie, NY 12205. The family is requesting that donations in Monica's memory be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 801 Roeder Road, Ste. 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.NewcomerAlbany.com