Natalie Allen

SURPRISE!!!

This is a true surprise. Usually, this page is filled with a snapshot of the decedent’s life in some type of chronological order, but for me this obituary is not going to be one of those. However, out of respect for tradition: I was born, baptized, confirmed, educated, married, became a mom, and found a wonderful career; so, I’ll use this space in the program to talk about my wonderful life.

It is not the usual situation that one gets to write her own obituary and I thank God for giving me the time to remember, forgive, forget, and have profound and long conversations with my husband, Edward Jr. and son, Edward III (Delia).

In addition to my family, I was also blessed with a great career that allowed me to use my time and talents to try to make a difference in the lives of others. For the majority of my career, I had the good fortune of working with a team of the most compassionate, diligent, intelligent, and motivated people I’ve ever known. Each of them remains special to me to this day.

I have two wonderful sisters that I watched grow into fine women and moms: Jocelyn (Charles), their daughter Melissa (Scott), and two grandsons (Tony and Marco); Cynthia, mother of my nephew Reid. I also have two sisters-in-law: Virgie, mother of Edward, Weymouth, Renita and Gene each of whom has his or her own family; Maggie and her daughters Chandra and Stephanie, and we recently added a first great, great nephew to that side of the family.

Although our families and numbers are dwindling, I have cousins and cousins-in-law, not the least of whom are my cousins Billy (Sharon), Tocie (Jeff), Tina, Erol, Kim (Lisa), Ola, Althea and Arnet.

I think there are many of you here today who will understand fully the meaning of true friendship. God brought into my life friends who became family, and family who became friends. A rare combination, and I hit the jackpot! Ilene, Pat, Tim, Bob, Jocelyn, Eleanor, Marlena, Ellen, Bill, Linda, Linda L., Sheri (Shaun), and our beautiful God-daughter McKenzie. At the top of that list is Libby: Olivia and her husband Pete. To say we are best friends is an understatement. I met her on my first day at Hampton Institute, and my life would not have been complete without our friendship of over six decades. I chose her to be my son’s God-mother, and she is my BFF. She’s always there for me and I hope she knows I’ve always been here for her.

Were it not for the love and support of these friends, and dozens of others, these last several months would have been even more difficult. I thank you now for all that each of you did. For every card, every note, every phone call, every meal, I thank you. Further, I hope that when we did have time together, it was as uplifting for you as it was for me.

During three hospitalizations, two of which were in intensive care, my husband never left my side. Our son literally “moved back home” to care for us both. They are the embodiment of love and the loves of my life.

My true friends gathered around me like an iron fence during these past several months to make sure that I was well cared for, prayed over and loved.

I’ve had wonderful spiritual care from pastor Mark Singh-Heuter, pastor Steven Godsall-Myer, pastor Ellen Meissgeier, pastor Bill Petrie and so many others I’ve met on my spiritual journey who have made individual contributions and given me inspiration just when I needed it the most.

I know you’ll be sad for a while, but when the time for sadness passes (and it will): celebrate me. Life is for living. Enjoy every second of it. Because in the blink of an eye, it can be finished as it is for me. I want you to be happy and to love each other. Maybe you’ll meet somebody here who will become your Olivia or become your Pat Barndt. I wish you in all sincerity God’s peace, God’s comfort and God’s blessings.

A funeral service for Natalie will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, October 17, at Advent Lutheran Church, 470 Landis Road, Harleysville, PA 19438, where the family will receive friends from 10-11 AM.