grave import

Obituary

Opal Eilene Allen, 85, of Burlington, passed away at 9:05 PM Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at the Great River Hospice House in West Burlington. Born October 28, 1927, in Arbela, MO, she was the daughter of George and Faye Holton McEldowney. On October 9, 1955, she married Thomas James Allen in Cantril, IA. He passed away September 10, 2011. Opal worked at Mademoiselle Beauty Salon, the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant, Witte's Drugstore and People's Drugstore and through all this was a homemaker. She was a graduate of Cantril High School in Cantril, IA where she played basketball and then graduated from the Burlington Beauty Academy. She was a member of West Hill United Methodist Church and the church Deborah Circle. She also enjoyed working at the YMCA as a water exercise instructor. She especially cherished being a mom and grandma, reading, camping and being outdoors. Survivors include four daughters, Leslee (Bill) Coons of Bartlett, IL, Cynthia (Avery Andrews) Allen of Canberra, Australia, Jacque (Gene) Litton of Troy, MI, and Carrie Russell of Lenexa, KS; eight grandchildren, Jamey Miller, Christopher Miller, James Andrews, Owen Andrews, Shane Litton, Ava Litton, Taylor Litton, and Angie Litton; four and one on the way, great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Other than her husband she was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Marion McEldowney. Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM with the family to receive friends from 3:30 PM until 5:00 PM Sunday, June 9, 2013 at Thielen Funeral Home. The funeral service for Mrs. Allen will be 10:00 AM Monday, June 10, 2013, at West Hill United Methodist Church with Reverend Morris C. Hurd officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. A time of food and fellowship will be held at the church following the burial. Memorials have been established for Multiple Sclerosis Society Upper Midwest Chapter, West Hill United Methodist Church, and the Iowa Department for the Blind.