Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

SOUTH THOMASTON – Sharon Allen, 71, died peacefully at home, following an extended illness, Wednesday, March 22, 2017.

Born in Rockland, August 20, 1946, she was the second daughter of nine born to Richard and Elaine Carroll Harrington. Sharon was educated locally and was a 1964 graduate of Rockland High School.

Sharon married the love of her life Fred Allen in Rockland on June 27, 1964. Together they made their home in South Thomaston where they purchased and operated the Keag Store.

Sharon spent the first part of her working career at National Sea Products where she worked until 1990. After the plant closed, she took a C.N.A. course, but later she decided to join her husband in the store. Just as many consider the Keag to be the heart of South Thomaston, Sharon kept her thumb on the pulse of the community. From her position behind the counter, she offered a listening ear, guidance, advice and wisdom. She never judged anyone, but gave of herself freely, more than once the source of a loan or bail money. Sharon was known for her sharp quick wit. She was always ready with a joke or a one liner, often leaving those who heard her with their mouths agape. She loved to banter and could give ‘guff’ to anyone just as well as she could take it.

An avid gardener, Sharon kept beautiful flower gardens around her home. Anyone who traveled Route 73 was blessed with the beauty and color that surrounded the house. She loved bird watching and traveling, enjoying road trips to Pennsylvania and the Amish Country. Although she wasn’t thrilled with flying, she was pleased to have the opportunity to take a trip to Hawaii with her mom and five of her sisters.

Family was extremely important to Sharon and she had a special place in her heart for her only grandson, Jacob. Jacob spent many hours at his Nanny’s house. She loved to spoil him and shower him with gifts, prompting Jacob to coin a new name for his Gram, “Nanny-Clause”. Together they spent countless hours going out to lunch and taking trips to Walmart. She was even teaching Jake how to cook some of her special recipes, although no one is quite sure if she passed along all the ‘secret ingredients’ that made her cooking so famous. Sharon was devastated and never quite the same after Jacob’s untimely passing in 2009.

Sharon and her eight sisters also had a special bond that isn’t always seen today. They held annual parties to ensure they all stayed together, and daily lunch dates at local restaurants were a regular occurrence for many years. Her family remembers Sharon never missed a lunch date!

Sharon will be sadly missed by all who loved her.

Predeceased by her parents, and her grandson Jacob Allen Paquette; Sharon is survived by her loving husband Fred Allen of South Thomaston; her children, Pam Paquette and her husband Jon, Ted Allen and his companion Tina Roberts all of South Thomaston; her sisters and their husbands, Pam and Robert Ober of Warren and Bonita Springs, FL, Stephanie and Dennis Davis of Spruce Head, Rhonda and Doug Anderson of Bonita Springs, FL, Gail McClure, Michelle and James Brannan of Rockland, Roxann and Malcolm Burnside, Melinda and George Blastow all of Rockland, Tracey and Rick Randall of Cushing; a cousin Russell Harrington of Friendship; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; her special four-legged furry companions, as well as countless friends, neighbors and loved ones.

Family and friends are invited to visit from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a celebration of her life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 29. Pastor Douglas Anderson will officiate. Private interment will be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either, Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County, P.O. Box 1294, Rockland, Maine 04841 or South Thomaston Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 147, South Thomaston, ME 04858.