Obituary: Joan Allen, 79

The following obituary appears on Legacy.com: 

ALLEN, Joan Joan W. Allen, 79, passed away peacefully on Saturday January 4, 2014 after an extended illness. She was born in Wakefield, Massachusetts on August 6, 1934 to Robert J and Lucy P Wheaton. She and Neal M. Allen were married on April 4, 1959. She was a loving and devoted mother to Tracy L Allen and Elena A Cass, enthusiastic grandmother to McKala G Cass and Camryn C Cass. She graduated from the Mary Hitchcock School of Nursing in New Hampshire and worked for several years in pediatrics at the New York Hospital before becoming the full time mother to her two daughters.

She was active in the community, being a Director of the Indian Hills Civic Association, a Director of the Juvenile Research Foundation Georgia Chapter, and member of the Indian Hills Garden Club. When her daughters were old enough, she worked as the Bookkeeper at The Eastside Elementary School in Cobb County. Her charitable interests were considerable, being active and supportive of Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, the above mentioned JDRF, Humane Society of Blue Ridge and the Salvation Army as well as numerous other National and local organizations. She was an avid reader and enjoyed drama and musicals on the stage as well as on film and TV. Her first interest though was always her family and her many friends.

The family will receive friends on Monday, January 13, 2014 from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm at H.M. Patterson & Son Canton Hill Chapel. A funeral service will be on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 11:30am at Holy Innocent's Episcopal Church, Sandy Springs, GA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Joan's memory to either the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, www.jdrf.org, 3525 Piedmont Rd NE, Bldg. 6 Ste 300, Atlanta GA 30305 or Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, ATTN: Gift Processing , 1577 NE Expressway, Suite A , Atlanta, GA 30329 www.choa.org. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hmpattersoncantonhill.com.

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