Mary Della Allen

Mary Della, named after her grandmothers, was born in a house in North English that is still occupied today, welcomed into a growing extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was the oldest of three daughters born to Caroline Esther Dietrich and Cecil Dean Ballard.

The family moved to a farm near Kinross, where she attended school with her life-long best friend, Goldie.

After graduating from English Valley High School, she trained as a practical nurse, moving to the metropolis of Cedar Rapids. She rented a room in a house that sits a couple blocks from Mercy Hospital, where she worked. She ate many of her meals at what was apparently a notorious dive, unaware of it's reputation, as she was always treated with respect. She was well regarded, known for patience and calmness, the Sister in charge relying upon her to care for some of the more challenging patients.

In September of 1963, she married Thomas "Tom" Allen at the Christian Church in Kinross. They were married for the better part of 45 years.

She developed an interest in cake decorating, an activity that requires technical skill, patience and creativity. She took courses, built a collection of points and pans and plates and pillars, and made cakes that towered at weddings, nestled at birthdays, launched graduates and heralded anniversaries.

Taking on new challenges in her thirties, she went to college, starting night classes at Kirkwood Community College. She earned her Associates degree at Kirkwood, then became a full-time student at Mount Mercy College, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in social work. And she learned to drive. She spent her career assisting adults and seniors.

A few stops at small town shops and fond memories of the accouterments of family events led to an interest in collecting, shared by her sisters. Many enjoyable, and sometimes frustrating, hours were spent combing shops and flea markets. Hard on the legs and back, but well worth it when an item was acquired. Not just the things, it was the many hours spent with family members that was her true prize.

When health and the arrival of grandchildren made trooping around flea markets less attractive, she focused on other interests. The adventures of grandchildren and great nieces and nephews, cooking programs and vintage cookbooks, home improvement shows, and movies.

After a few years of widowhood, she married Gerald "Joe" Allen at their minister's house in Wellman. They were married for almost a decade.

Today, her family stretches from Virginia to Montana and Korea, and many points in between. She is survived by her big gray rescue Manx, Nigel, who adopted her when his family left him behind; her children, Angie and Anthony; her grandchildren, Aurora, Juston, Kaylyn and Ambrose; her great grandchildren, Kaladin and Atticus; sisters Bonnie and Chris; sisters-in-law Molly and Gloria; brothers-in-law Denny and Mike; best friend Goldie; many wonderful nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews; and dear cousins.