ALLEN
Ann Marie
Age 80
Died February 26, 2020
Ann is preceded in death by her parents John and Margaret Rafferty and Jerry’s parents Charlie & Marie Allen and Jerry’s brother Chuck Allen. She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, Jerry; children John (Vicki Schindeldecker), Deb (Bob Walton), Charles (Annie Walton), Michelle (Jim Wartnick); grandchildren Josh Hackett & Lauren Allen, Ryan & Cayla Walton, Calvin and Ann Wartnick, and ‘adopted’ grandchildren Alex & Amber Schindeldecker and Micah, Aaron and Josh Yates; her siblings Ron Rafferty (Edna), Kate Osterbauer (Lee), John Rafferty (Lois), Jim Rafferty (Lynn), Sheila Koepp (Denny) and Helen LaFavor; her brother-in-law Jack Allen (Gus), sister-in-law Rosemarie Allen, and Barb Allen; numerous beloved nieces and nephews, Brian, Cheryl & Michelle, Kevin, Karen & Kristen, Kim & Kristin, Mike & Terry, Sean & Sheila, and Bill, Sue, Alex & Ben; numerous cousins who remained very close to her heart, including the McIntyre’s, the Ryder’s, and the Rafferty’s and her best friend since the 4th grade, Colleen (“The Bear”) Loberg (Darryl).
This past week, Ann joyfully celebrated her 80th birthday and she and Jerry celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. The whole family celebrated with a festive party at the Rafferty/Allen family home. Ann had the great opportunity to hear how loved she was and was able to return that love and be surrounded by numerous family members and friends in her last days. There was rarely a moment when she did not have an extended family visitor to sit by her side smiling, laughing and talking about special times (and many humorous ones). It was very important for Ann to die in her home—the same home in which she was born and in which her mother died. The home shares special memories for all the family and gave us all comfort in those final days.
Ann and Jerry met and frequently danced at the Withrow Ballroom. They married at St. Peter’s Church in North St. Paul at the at age 22 in a winter blizzard. Ann and her bridesmaids were snowed in at the family home and had to take to the street to walk to church. A good Samaritan pulled over and gave the bride a ride to the church. Ann’s wedding gown was also worn by her sister Kate and her daughter Deb and it hanged in the living room during the party celebrating her 58 years of marriage and the combined total of 143 years of marriage for the three who wore her wedding dress. Ann and Jerry were very focused on their family (four children in 4 and half years). The house was always bustling and filled with energy. The family frequently made trips to camp at Willow River (WI) and had many special memories with the Loberg’s there and up at Lake Kabetogama.
Ann loved to decorate for and celebrate the holidays. She had elaborate decorations for Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s day, Halloween, and especially St. Patrick’s Day. She enjoyed family parties to celebrate the holidays and found ways to include fun activities. One of her favorite activities was the giant Easter Egg Hunt in which well over 300 eggs were hidden all over the family yard. She was also known for her Halloween bonfires and her bags of treats for the kids and grandkids for just about every holiday.
Ann worked for over 25 years at Target in North St. Paul. She made many long-time friends. Whenever we would take her there to shop, some employee would stop to chat with her and talk about the old times and their mutual friends. She had great pride in her work and was well-loved at her Target store.
Ann survived primary ocular lymphoma for 12 years. When she was initially diagnosed, she was told that no one had survived longer than 2 years with the diagnosis. She courageously endured systematic chemotherapy and chemo eye injections and went into remission until 2014. When the cancer returned, she was told that no one had ever survived a recurrence of the cancer. She went through another round of systematic chemotherapy and again went into remission. The cancer returned in 2019 and she began chemo eye injections. Ultimately, the cancer spread to her brain and grew very rapidly. Ann’s doctor at the Mayo clinic would update her frequently about all the places around the world he would talk and teach about her case to help other doctors treat patients so they could have a longer life. She was very brave and truly was a miracle.
We love her so much and will miss her forever.
Mass of Christian Burial Monday (3/2) 11:00 AM at CHURCH OF ST. PETER, 2600 N. Margaret St., North St. Paul. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 2-5 PM at SANDBERG FUNERAL HOME, 2593 E. 7th Ave., North St. Paul, & one hour prior to Mass at church.