Whitney R. Allen

Jeffersonville

Whitney Rae Allen, 33, passed from the loving arms of her parents into the presence of the Lord at Fletcher Allen Health Care on Monday, March 8, 2010. Whitney fought with courage and grace a long, painful battle with colon cancer. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on November 13, 1976 to Stearns (J.R.) and Cynthia (Whittington) Allen. During high school Whitney performed with the Lamoille County Players and served on their board of directors. After graduating from Lamoille Union High School in Hyde Park, VT in 1994, Whitney attended O'Brien's School of Cosmetology. Her fascination with cosmetics eventually led to training as a professional face painter at Disney World in Florida. Even though she loved living in Florida, in 2002 she returned to Vermont to live near her family and started her own facepainting business, Wildstreak Facepainting. She was a very talented artist who loved bringing joy to children. Whitney worked in various marketing and administrative capacities and used her gifts of intuition and persuasion to achieve several sales awards. She formed lasting friendships with some of her co-workers at Smugglers' Notch Resort in Cambridge, VT. Volunteering with the Red Cross, Fletcher Allen Health Care Emergency Room, and Varnum Memorial Library in Jeffersonville gave her a lot of pleasure. She loved doing counted cross stitch, cruising flea markets and yard sales, cooking and eating good food. Whitney had a wonderful sense of humor and clever wit. Her lively sensitive spirit, caring heart and willingness to help others will be greatly missed by all those whose lives she touched. She will always be remembered for her unique personality and flair.

Whitney is survived by: Her parents Stearns and Cyndy Allen of Cambridge; her grandmother Betty Allen of Westford; two sisters: Cara St. Cyr and husband Dan of Cambridge; Kristen Smith and husband Jason of Millbury, MA; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins including a special Aunt Patricia and Uncle Jose Garcia of Mexico; Uncle Arthur (A.C.) Whittington and wife Joyce Diane of Illinois; Special nieces and nephews: Shayne; Taylor; Jacob; Mason; Alanna; Annabelle; special cousins Paloma; Shan, Jose and her most adored and cherished companion - her kitty Merlin.

Whitney also leaves her godparents Don and Pat Whitman of Cheyenne, Wyoming; and close friends Sheila McKay, Genie Rybicki-Judkins, and Jacinta Fitzgerald.

She was predeceased by: Her infant daughter Carol Marie; maternal grandparents and paternal grandfather Stearns Allen, Sr., and niece Maria Joy Smith.

We would like to acknowledge the extra TLC that Whitney received from her landlords, Marc and Ann Mallett; and the nurses at Lamoille Home Health, especially Sue Wisehart.

The family also extends a sincere and heartfelt thank you to the extraordinary nurses and staff on Shepardson 4 at FAHC, the Outpatient Oncology staff, and the kind folks at Hope Lodge.

There will be no visiting hours. A memorial service with reception afterward will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Jericho Congregational Church, 331 Browns Trace Road in Jericho Center.

Pastors Peter Anderson, Glenn Carter, and Lyle Willey will lead the service. Inurnment will be private and at the convenience of the family. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either the Lamoille County Players, P.O. Box 9, Hyde Park, VT, 05655 or to Lamoille Area Cancer Network, P.O. Box 38, Lake Elmore, VT, 05657.

The family is being assisted by Direct Cremation Services of the A. W. Rich Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Essex Jct., VT, 05452. The family invites you to share your memories and online condolences by visiting www.awrichfuneralhomes.com.