WESTBROOK- Cynthia Elaine (Gounaris) Allen passed away on March 28, 2026. Cynthia was born on July 13,1946 in Haverhill, Massachusetts to Rose (Capetanelis) Gounaris and George Daniel Gounaris. Cynthia was the oldest of three children. Cynthia and her brothers Daniel George and John Stanley Gounaris grew up in a loving household in Haverhill surrounded by her big Greek family.
Cynthia graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in education in 1968. She then moved to Boston and worked at State Street Bank. She met Kenneth Charles Allen there. In 1977, Cynthia and Ken were married, and together they made their home in Sebago, Maine.
Cynthia devoted her life to teaching special education, a calling she approached with deep compassion and dedication. She and Ken also opened their hearts and home to Marjorie (Jacobs) Salazar, whom they lovingly fostered.
Cynthia and Ken shared a love of travel and music, and they always had a Siberian Husky as part of their family. Cynthia had a deep appreciation for culture and community—she enjoyed reading, attending Native American events, and leading her students in the Special Olympics.
Cynthia and Ken loved entertaining on Allen Road inSebago, Maine in the beautiful mountains. They had many wonderful family and friends’ gatherings there, including the Capetanelis/Gounaris family cookoffs.
Cynthia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ken Allen; Marjorie (Jacobs) Salazar; her granddaughter, Kendra Salazar; her brother, John Gounaris; her goddaughter Demetria Barakitis and her parents, Rose and George Gounaris.
She is survived by her mother’s cousin, Theodora (Lola) (Capetanelis) Kalivas; also her brother Daniel Gounaris and his wife Marilyn (Roberts) Gounaris; her sister-in-law Helen “Besty” (Morgan) Gounaris; her nieces Rebecca Gounaris, Nikki Gounaris, Lynn Jordan, Tracy Collins and her nephew George Gounaris; and many cousins and great nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind goddaughters Anastasia and Tracy Collins, and dear friends Ginny Smith of Exeter, NH, Goody MacPherson of Windham, Maine and Paul and Sibylle DeBonis of Sebago, Maine, and a large and loving extended family.
Donations in Cynthia’s name can be made to The Opportunity Alliance-East End Center 215 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 553-5950 or at https://www.opportunityalliance.org/ways-to-give
A service to celebrate Cynthia’s life will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2026, from 3 PM – 5 PM at Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, 71 Maple Street in Cornish Maine. Following the services, interment will be at Allen Road, Sebago, Maine.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, Cornish, www.mainefuneral.com