Elizabeth Hummer Allen
May, 1910 - August, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009 11:22 PM PDT
Peterborough, N.H.
Elizabeth Hummer Allen, 99, of Peterborough, N.H., died Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, at Harborside Healthcare Pheasantwood.
Born in 1910 in Greenfield, Iowa, she was the daughter of Dr. Warren Lee and Jessie McClaran Hummer. After she was orphaned at age 14, she supported herself and her brother by playing the piano for YMCA dance classes and accompanying silent movies. She graduated from Boise High School, Boise, Idaho, where she was women’s tennis champion, Queen of the May and the first female student body president. She attended the University of Idaho, where she met her husband of over 60 years, Rev. James K. Allen, of Dorchester, Mass., who predeceased her.
She was the mother of seven children, 24 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; she was a past Massachusetts Mother of the Year.
She was a volunteer music teacher at the Mather School, Dorchester, Mass., and inspired her children’s interest in music as well as countless members of the community where she lived. For her 41 years of dedicated service to her community, she was named Dorchester Citizen of the Year in 1995. She retired at age 90 as organist and music director of the First Parish Church in Dorchester, Mass. Music remained her joy until the very end of her life.
She is survived by her daughters, Ilo Allen Schmid, New Plymouth, Idaho, Marie Allen Heft, Kent, Wash.; and sons, Frank H. Allen, M.D., Seattle, Wash., John R. Allen, Naugatuck, Conn., Herbert B. Allen, M.D., Cherry Hill, N.J., and Jefferson K. Allen, J.D., Peterborough, N.H. She was predeceased by her son, Robert L. Allen, M.D.
A celebration of her life was held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, at the Cathedral of the Pines Rindge, N.H., which was followed by a reception tea at the Town Hall, Rindge Common, Rindge, N.H.
Memorial gifts may be made to:
The Elizabeth Hummer Allen Scholarship
Boise Public Schools Education Foundation
8169 W. Victory Road
Boise, ID 83709
