Rose Mary Allen

Rose Mary peacefully passed away on January 26, 2011. She was born in Woodland, California. Rose Mary was preceded in death by her mother, Alice and her father, Frank Allen, both of Ukiah, California. Rose Mary will be interred at Pine Creek Cemetery in Chico, California. This pioneer cemetery is the burial site of several generations of her husband's family dating from the early 1800's. Rose Mary is survived by her brother Fred Allen of Ukiah, son Russell Allen of Louisville, and husband Larry Allen of Golden. She graduated from Ukiah High School and from the University of the Pacific. It was at the University she met her husband. Rose Mary was an avid reader, musician, and animal rights advocate all her life. Her piano students included both children and adults. Last respects can be given on Wednesday, February 2nd, Thursday, February 3rd, and Friday, February 4th, from 12pm-5pm on all three days, and at the Memorial Service. The Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 5th, at 11:00am. All services will be held at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel located at 7577 West 80th Avenue in Arvada, CO. Eulogy Thank you all for coming. I know Rose Mary crossed your lives in many ways just as she did those of countless others. I wasn't sure I could do this. I wasn't for my father or for my mother. Russ said, oh come on Dad you need to do this."" If I strike out maybe my side retires and no more people die in my family. So here I am for awhile anyway. Let me begin | Reverend Kane is my backup. I first had to Google the word eulogy to get some suggestions and guidance. In my head I began preparing a draft of this Eulogy when it was very early in the morning before sunlight as I was looking out across the expanse of the city from our bedroom. I asked myself which of the many wonderful attributes characterized Rose Mary's life for as long as I knew her or just before. There were two, academics and music. She graduated from high school and college with honors. She and I met because we were getting each other's mail in an apartment complex just off campus. I was in graduate school at the Pharmacy School and she was teaching high school in Lodi, California. When we first met with her minister about getting married he asked us if we were brother and sister because of our address and name. We were married on a beautiful sunny day in California at the Chapel of the University of the Pacific. The grass was lush and roses were in full bloom that day in December. We could have stayed in California with me working as a pharmacist and she teaching high school but I dragged her to Eugene for further graduate studies at the University of Oregon. My stipend for the year was $1, 600. We found inexpensive entertainment by camping weekends in the pristine forests of Oregon where the water was so pure there were no fish in the lakes or streams. Rose Mary was accepted to the UO Graduate Musicology Program. She researched and documented the Soviet's use of music to politically influence its people. Many of the documents she had to read were in Russian. She was way ahead of others on the subject of Soviet exploitation of the arts as a form of political indoctrination. However, her thesis committee determined she did not prove the case sufficiently to award her a Ph.D. A decade later her thesis was indeed found correct based on additional documents gathered from secret Soviet files and writes, artists, musicians who where there at the time. I still have the original typewriter prepared dissertation. Whatïéé½s a typewriter? Several years later Rose Mary applied and was accepted to the Law School at the University of Miami. They had a special program for law and music. She did not attend but instead decided to become a mother and homemaker. Miami is where Russell was born. Rose Mary proceeded to raise Russell and her husband! When we moved to Golden, Rose Mary met a terrific group of ladies in a local neighborhood book club. Book Club was one of the loves of her life. There were times I thought we had more books than the Library. It was at this same time Rose Mary began teaching piano to children and adults and started her ""Music Group."" I got to participate with that group of wonderful people and share in their great music, great food, and really great wine. Academics and Music, wow, she got her ""groove back"". Rose Mary passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 26. As I was saying farewell to her, her ship to the afterlife was slowly sailing from port, I asked God to grant me one small request. I said, ""God could she come back just for a little while to tell me what all the secret passwords were to our banks and investments and the combination to the wall safe in the house."" I waited and waited but her ship started to slowly pull away again. So I told God, ""I found a really interesting recipe in Bon Appetit and I want Rose Mary to tell me what she thought after I made it and besides, it was for 8 servings and I was just one."" I waited for God to tell me it would be ok, even an email or text message would be fine. I still did not get a response. So I guess I will have to wait until I prepare the dinner and see if she comes. So ""class,"" the take away lessons today are: don't make those secret passwords too secret and please join us for some midday refreshments. Russell brought some special bakery items that he especially prepared for you at the Millennium Hotel in Boulder. Farewell Rose Mary, God speed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Rose Mary's name to: Friends of Animals http://friendsofanimals.org/donate/memorial-donate.php Music for the Ceremony Music for the Ceremony was selected by Larry as those he and Rose Mary admired. Anna Moffo, Soprano; American Symphony Orchestra; Leopold Stokowski, Conductor Recorded by RCA Victor, 1964 Selections from Songs of the Augergne, Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, and Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14 Please share your memories of Rose Mary and condolences with her family by selecting the ""Sign Guestbook"" button.