Mary T. Allen

Mary Theresa Allen, 81, of Sanbornville, NH died peacefully on July 15^th, 2023, where she was residing at Residence at Silver Square in Dover, NH.

Mary grew up in Eliot, Maine on a family farm.  She enjoyed helping her dad tend to the farm animals and fix whatever needed fixing. Life on the farm taught her the value of good work ethics and nourished her lifelong love for animals.  She raised many animals throughout her life.  Some of the more memorable ones were “Stormy” the horse, “Christie” the Sheltie, and more recently, her beloved cat of many years, “Charlie”,

After graduating high school in Eliot, Maine, Mary started her adult journey by heading to “Sunny California”. She settled in the Oakland area where she lived for a time before buying a home in Hayward, CA, and remained there most of her adult life.  She worked at Bayer Corporation (formerly Cutter) for many years in the tool management area and received numerous awards for her ingenuity. Many of her coworkers remarked how Mary maintained her work area meticulously and could find any part at a moment’s notice. She liked working with all the “guys” and regularly flexed her “guns” for silly fun.

Mary’s partner of many years was (predeceased) Marge Vargas.  Although Mary and Marge parted ways, she held God daughter, Tina, and many other Vargas family members dear to her heart.  Mary and Marge regularly visited family back home East while scarfing Maine lobsters and mom’s apple pie.  Mary enjoyed camping and everything “country,” including line dancing – where she often wore chaps and a Stetson hat. Later in life, she loved to spend time learning mechanics from her brother-in-law, Bill.

Mary’s other great love was basketball. As a teen she played in high school and later, as an adult, in Portsmouth, NH in community leagues.  After she moved to California, her beloved team, the Sacramento Monarchs, stole her heart and never let go.  Mary loved to talk to anyone, but if you were tall, she would predictably ask, “You must play hoop?” She enthusiastically attended games where she could meet players, get autographed tee shirts, and take pictures. These cherished mementos were eventually made into a quilt by her sister, Debbie, and appropriately, kept Mary warm during the final hours of her journey. 

After retirement, Mary relocated back to Sanbornville, New Hampshire to take care of her beloved sister, Sandy. In 2017, Mary moved to Dover, NH and made lots of friends at Maple Suites, and more recently, at Residence at Silver Square.  Her “extended” family in the Reflections neighborhood at Silver Square will always be fondly remembered by our family. Despite Mary’s dementia, she truly felt loved and at home there, which was so important to our family.

Mary is predeceased by her parents Madeline and Frank Allen, whom she spoke of often.  She also had five siblings: Clarence (Joe) Allen, William (Bill) Allen and his wife Linda (surviving), Christine Willis and her husband Bill, Sandra (Tillie) Allen and her only surviving sibling, Deborah Cormier, married to Toussaint.  She also has many nieces, nephews and cousins in California, New Hampshire, and Maine who all loved her dearly. 

A celebration of life will be held in early September. If you would like details please contact Ann at: mycharlie42@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ElderPet, PO Box 624, Durham, NH 03824 in memory of Mary, by mail or using this link: https://elderpet.org/donate.html