Harriette Allen

Harriette “Ginger” (O’Donnell) Allen, 89, of St. Joseph, passed away, Saturday, August 22, 2015 at her home surrounded by her family. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 2:00 P.M. Friday, August 28 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph with Fr. James Morris officiating.  Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma.  Memorial Donations may be made to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital or St. Joseph Catholic Church.  Those wishing to sign Ginger’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Ginger was born at home on July 17, 1926 in Detroit to Edward & Gladys (O’Brien) O’Donnell.  On May 17, 1947 she married C. Laurence “Larry” Allen in Port Huron, Michigan.  Ginger loved tending to her home & family for the first 30 years of her married life.  She then was instrumental in assisting her husband as he pursued his second career as a Chiropractic Physician.  Ginger continued to help Larry as she served as office manager of his Chiropractic Office.  She had many interests including interior design, collecting cookbooks, and her Irish heritage. She loved traveling to Ireland which she did numerous times:  she loved a good Irish hooley.  Another of her hobbies was writing poetry about her beloved family and the ups and downs of life.  She actually compiled her life’s story in poetry and had it published.  She and Larry served as foster parents for about twenty children ranging in age from birth to eighteen years as she raised her own children.  Ginger was a woman of strong Catholic Faith.  She passed this along to her family and it helped sustain her even as she slipped into the throes of Alzheimer’s disease:  Ginger always turned to Our Blessed Mother.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Ginger is survived by her children-Kathleen “Kitty” (Larry) Girard of South Haven, Larry (Kathy) Allen of Spring, TX, Maureen (Matthew) Luxem of St. Joseph; ten grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; her sister Ruth Ann Lentner of Findley, OH; numerous nieces & nephews; and her special caregivers Lori Bush & Lisita Wilson.  She was preceded in death by her husband Larry on March 20, 2014, three infant children, her parents, and siblings-PJ, Francis, Kathleen O’Donnell Seely & Michael O’Donnell.