Anne Marie Allen

On February 17, 2021, heaven gained a one-of-a-kind angel. We hope heaven is ready for her opinions. Anne Marie Hull Allen was born on July 28, 1929, to James D. and Rose Hull. With her beautiful red hair and big brown eyes, she stood out in a crowd. Some of her fondest childhood memories were going for Sunday rides with her mom, dad, and little brother Jimmy. She graduated from Anaconda High School in 1947. Anne Marie held many jobs as a teenager; her most memorable time was working as a telephone operator.

On August 6, 1951, she married her one and only true love — Lynn Allen. They had three children, Dick, Pam and Vicky. Though they divorced after 35 years of marriage, it seemed they still needed each other. Anne Marie moved into a house just across the alley from Lynn. Lynn would come over every morning for coffee and the paper. Together they traveled to all of their grandchildren's activities, weekly WalMart trips, and many doctor appointments.

From 1980 to 1997, Mrs. Allen, as the kids knew her, worked as the Anaconda High School secretary. It was seldom that she would go places that a former student wouldn't acknowledge her. She loved working with Elmer Carosone, Tony Burelli, Dwayne Manson, and the gang. To supplement her income, she worked at MacIntyres during the summer and played the organ every Sunday at the Elks Lodge. She met so many great people along the way. After retirement, she volunteered her time at the Community Hospital of Anaconda as a greeter. In her later years, she could be found playing pinochle at the Metcalf center, and if you were her partner, you'd best be on your game. One of her fondest memories was traveling to Las Vegas for her 80th birthday with her daughters.

She loved gardening, music, two-hour hot baths with a glass of wine, and a good book. She also enjoyed the holidays, especially making her mother's dressing with her girls. Anne Marie would make homemade cinnamon rolls and coffee for her kids every Sunday morning. She was at every home Copperhead game taking tickets with her partner in crime Bob Laughlin. Our mother and grandmother was a gifted musician, she learned to play the pipe organ at St. Paul's church and played at several Sunday masses. She shared her love of the piano by teaching many Anaconda youth in a studio that Lynn built for her.

Mom battled many illnesses. One of them alone would have knocked an average person down, but not Gertie, as she was known to most. After three heart attacks and two bouts of breast cancer, it was finally colon cancer that caught up with her.

She is preceded in death by her mom, dad, little brother Jimmy, husband Lynn Allen, and best friend of over 60 years, Jan Palakovich. She is survived by her son Dick Allen, Pam (Geno) Wilhelm, and Vicky (RJ) Tocher. Grandkids; Dave (Star) Allen, Jackie (Dan) Guiberson, Greg (Yvonne) Wilhelm, Gina Wilhelm, Derek (Jenesis) AIlick, Jordan Allen, Skylar Allen, and Kaitlynne Tocher. Her five great-grandchildren; Dillon and Isabell Guiberson, Clara and Gabriel Allen, and Aurora Allick. Also surviving are Sisters-In-Law, Rita Allen and Elaine Allen, and several nieces and nephews. She was also lucky to have great neighbors, Polly Kirkaby and Paul Capps, who were always there.

We know a few short paragraphs cannot surmise a life lived 91 unforgettable years, not to mention the life changes that she experienced: wars, presidents, the internet, and a pandemic. We hope we have given you a little insight into a remarkable woman we were blessed to call mom and grandma Gertie. Mom, we will miss you. Rest in peace.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 17, 2021 at St. Peter's Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service at the church.