Allen

Helen Marie Allen, 92, of Bunker Hill, Ill., died at Carlinville Rehab & Health Care Center in Carlinville on Friday, July 22, 2022. She was born July 9, 1930, in Shipman to William and Catherine Drew Burns. She married Malvern "Mook" Allen on Sept. 12, 1953, in Shipman. He preceded her in death on June 5, 2020.

Before marrying she worked in a lab for the Macoupin County Farm Bureau. In later years she was librarian at Bunker Hill Public Library and receptionist for Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, Pa. Her most important job was building a home for Mook, no matter where they moved and raising her seven children.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Joan) Allen of Bunker Hill, Kathleen (Mark) Knetzer of Abingdon, Md., Theresa (David) Bryan of Shipman, Denise (James) Davis of Lincoln, John (Bonnie) Allen of Bunker Hill, Joan (Jerry) Flarity of Litchfield, Richard Allen of Benld; 17 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren, numerous great-great-grandchildren; and siblings, John Burns of Carlinville, Charles (Mary Lou) Burns of Shipman, and Mary Burns of Bunker Hill. Helen was preceded in death by her parents and husband; and sister, Beatrice "Betty" Lynch.

Memorial Mass was held on Friday, July 29, at SS Simon & Jude Church in Gillespie. Burial was at St. Denis Cemetery in Shipman. A Celebration of Life followed at the Shipman Community Center.

Memorials are suggested to Bunker Hill Food Pantry. Condolences may be left online at http://www.kravanyafuneral.com. Kravanya Funeral Home in Bunker Hill was in charge of arrangements.