Joan B. Allen

Joan B. Allen CLAREMONT — Joan B. Allen, age 72, died peacefully in her home, surrounded by loved ones, on Dec. 23, 2021, due to complication from a multiyear battle with acute myeloid leukemia. She was born to Steven J. and Lucille (Dodier) Milan at Claremont General Hospital on March 7, 1949. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School, class of 1967, and a lifelong communicate of St. Joseph Church in Claremont. Joan and Chuck were married on July 19, 1969, while Chuck was home on leave after serving a yearlong tour in Vietnam before Chuck headed to Germany to finish off his tour of duty, where Joan joined him a few months later. Upon returning home, Joan found an apartment, bought a little furniture and a few months later, Chuck was soon home for good. A year later, they bought a house on Red Water Brook Road in Claremont, where they still resided 50 years later. In her earlier years, she held various positions of employment. But her true calling was staying at home raising her two children, tending to the animals and working endlessly in her vegetable and flower gardens. Joan was a creature of habit. One over the many years was having her early morning coffee outside, from summer through the dead of winter, sitting in or near ‘her’ screen house. A large poncho got her through all sorts of precipitation, meaning she got to see a lot of great sunrises, listen to morning birds and observe the changes in people and vehicles traveling the road. Joan is survived by her husband of 52 years, Charles “Chuck” Allen; two children, Spencer Allen, of Claremont, and Loni Allen, of Hillsborough, New Hampshire; sister-in-law Ronnie Dubreuil, of Claremont, sister-in-law Pam Lefrancois, of Sarasota, Florida; an aunt, Rena Hendee; nephews, Jim Milan, Andrew Milan, Alan Dubreuil, Adam Spaulding, Bryan Spaulding; plus many cousins and friends. She was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Ernie Dubreuil and Stephen Milan; nephew Randy Dubreuil; mother-in-law Nat Allen and father-in-law Henry Allen, of Guild, New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a nonprofit or charity of your choice like the “Lost My Way Animal Shelter,” 21 Hartford St., Claremont, NH 03743, since her dog was a rescue and Joan was always looking out for lost animals. The funeral will be Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, at the Stringer Funeral Home on Broad Street in Claremont, vising hour from 10 to 11 a.m. and service at 11. There will be a gathering for a celebration of life and remembrance afterwards at the Arrowhead Lodge on Robert Easter Way in Claremont. Arrangements are with Stringer Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 146 Broad St. Claremont, NH 03743. To view an online memorial or send a private message of condolence, visit www.stringerfh.com.