Joyce M. (Wood) Allen, 83 December 18, 1937 - April 3, 2022

On the early spring morning of April 3, 2022, after a short stay at Penacook Place and a brief time at Beacon Palliative/Hospice Care in Haverhill MA, Joyce Marlene Allen 83 years young, met with her angels that had gone before her.

Joyce was born on December 18, 1937 in Elmira N.Y. to Franklin Lewis and Evangeline Agnes Wood. Sadly, her father passed 6 months after her birth. Joyce was raised by her grandparents Harry and Sadie T.H. Johnson at 105 Hope St. in Elmira, NY. She was very close to her grandmother and sadly lost her in 1989. Joyce attended the local schools through her Junior year at Thomas A. Edison High School. She was very active in the arts, school plays, writing poetry and musicals. She had an amazing voice and was very talented. She continued to have friends from her years there up until the present day. One of them, Garth Rumsmoke, kept in touch with Joyce over the years and made her aware of what changes took place as well as helping her find out about her own family history. Her mother remarried to Jay Decatur in 1945; having two more children Stephen and James, giving Joyce two brothers. Her mom and Jay divorced some years later and then in 1953 her mother remarried to George W. Nevin from Hamilton MA who had five children of his own, four girls and one boy.

Before her Junior year of high school ended, she moved to Hamilton MA in 1955 to be with her mother, step father, and siblings. This showed promise as she met Robert A. Allen, a local young man with a large family. She attended his senior prom in 1955 and their relationship blossomed. She graduated from Hamilton High School in 1956. She was involved with the Glee Club, Dramatics and Operetta. Her favorite colors were red and black which would really be known when she painted a ceiling the colors of a checkerboard later in her life. Soon after, her and Robert were married and moved to Georgetown MA, buying their first home and having their first child in 1957. A family of seven children came over time, what we called the original five and the remaining two. Her mother’s passing in 1961 was difficult on her, as she was just beginning her own adult life. In 1974, after separating from her husband, she moved to Haverhill where she remained for most of the rest of her days. Although they divorced, they remained friends up until he passed. She also remained friendly with his current wife Diane. For a short period of her life she lived in Florida.

Joyce worked in retail for several years, including Zayre/Ames in Haverhill MA. She also had side jobs cleaning banks at night. She then started to work and care for the elderly, as a HHA and CNA in MA and NH. It all started with her doing private duty care in nursing homes for families at The Oxford in Haverhill, then to private care in family homes as well as a CNA at Twin Oaks in Danvers for several years. The love and compassion she gave to those she cared for spoke volumes in the many letters of recommendation she obtained over time. She was a very hard and dedicated worker and continued to work until several years ago. She moved in with and took care of her son John who passed from AIDS in 1994, and as life will happen, that would not be the last of her children that she would have to bury, as there would be three more and a grandchild to follow. No parent should have to bury their own children.

She loved cooking and many would come to her home for her home made sauce, popovers, yellow cake and warm chocolate pudding or her chocolate cake and seven minute boiled frosting. Mention lobster and she was there! She was some what of an interior designer as every time you would go into her home she would have rearranged it. She was strong headed and open minded. Life was never easy but she did the best she knew how, with what she was given.
Her hobbies included dancing, singing, music, poetry and the arts. She loved Elvis Presley, Judy Garland as well as many of the old Hollywood glamour stars. She had a special connection with animals, the wilderness, and she had many pets over the years; Pookie, Baby, Shamu, and Peekaboo to name a few. Her door was always open to anyone. She will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her children Theresa Evangeline and her husband John of Rochester NH, Bonnie Jeanne and her significant other Joseph Vincent of Methuen MA, and Rebecca Lynn and her significant other Johnathon of Seabrook, NH. Extended family include Chris, Corey and Kimberly. Brothers Stephen Decatur and James Decatur. Step sisters Georgia and Dottie. Step brother John. Several grandchildren & great grandchildren who lovingly knew her as “Crazy Grandma”, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is also survived by all of her previous son & daughter in laws, her cat Baby boy AKA Peek a boo, and long time companion and friend Richard “Dick” “DW” Williams of Rochester NH, “DW was the heart felt love of her life.”

She was predeceased by her grandparents Harry and Sadie T.H. Johnson of Elmira, New York; her father Franklin Lewis Wood of Elmira, N.Y.; her mother Evangeline Agnes Nevin and step father George W. Nevin of Hamilton MA, her step sisters Anne, Irene, Nevin, Egner, Parta, and Nancy Sullivan, her sons John Franklin Allen of Haverhill, MA and Robert Arthur Allen Jr. of Raymond NH, her daughters Catherine Louise Trumbull of Barrington NH and Patricia Marie Allen Rivers of Plaistow, NH, her grand daughter Stacie Lynn & her Sunshine Baby, and ex-husband Robert Arthur Allen Sr of Rochester NH.

Special thanks to the her nurses and aides from Alternative Home Health Care who helped her remain independent over the past several years as well as the staff at Penacook Place and Beacon Hospice.

Arrangements are being handled by the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home 486 Main St. Haverhill MA.
Services and burial at Linwood Cemetery in Haverhill MA to be announced by the family at a future date.
Donations can be made in Joyce Marlene Allen’s name to the MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen, MA or Dana/Farber Cancer Institute.
Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com