Winifred Allen

An Omagh centenarian who passed away in her 101st year has been described as a "great friend and neighbour".

Winifred Allen, Omagh, passed peacefully away at Harold McCauley House on 28th October, 2023, Dearly beloved wife of the late Isaac, devoted mother of Kenneth (Maureen), Elizabeth and Charles, a much loved grandmother of Stephen, Karen, Philip, Mark and Charlene, and a cherished great-grandmother. She was laid to rest at Greenhill Cemetery, Omagh, on Monday following a Service of Thanksgiving for her life in Trinity Presbyterian Church, of which she was a faithful member for 70 years. Conducting the funeral service was Rev Jane Nelson, who was covering for Rev Robert Herron, minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church who is currently on leave.

A poem 'God Knows', by Minnie Louie Haskins, was read by Winifred's great granddaughter Emily Allen, during the funeral service Rev Nelson told mourners how Winifred Allen was born on the home farm at Tullywhisker in December, 1922. She was one of ten children born to Gerald and Martha and the last surviving sibling. She often recalled going as a child to Ardstraw Presbyterian Church in a pony and trap and having great fun riding through the country roads on her bicycle.

Once she left school she went to work as a nurse in the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital where she met her future husband Mr Isaac Allen. They married in 1945 and were blessed with three children Kenneth, Elizabeth and Charles. They set up home in a two-room cottage with no amenities at Deer Park near Lammy before moving into Omagh in 1953 after Isaac got a job in Nestles as a mechanic.

"Their son Kenny remembers the thrill of having running water in the house and a radio to listen to in the evenings," Rev Nelson said. "Winnie spent many hours working in the garden, cultivating it and growing their own vegetables," She was also a keen crocheter, crossword puzzler and baker and could throw a mean bowl whether it was indoor bowls in Trinity or outdoor bowls at James Whites off the Derry Road.

"As was the law in those days Winnie had to give up work when she got married but found a new career as a child minder and raised many families of children from across the wider Omagh community and didn't retire until she was in her 80s!. She was well known for pushing a pram through the town during the week or cycling with a child safely strapped into the child seat. In fact on one occasion she received a fine from the police for cycling with a child in tow. Winnie appealed the decision and it was overturned when she was able to prove that the seat fulfilled all safety requirements. There was no messing with Mrs Allen!"

Rev Nelson continued: "Many of the children she looked after were as fond of her as they would be their own grannies. When she celebrated her 100th birthday last year she got cards from many of the children she had looked after over the years. "Sadly Winnie was widowed in 1979 at the age of 55 after 34 years of happily married life. She took great joy in her six grandchildren Stephen Karen and Philip who lived in Omagh, Mark in England and Charlene and Charlotte in Australia although sadly Charlotte died from cancer at the age of 12. "She also got great pleasure hearing about her eight great grandchildren Isaac and Abby, Daniel and James, Emily and Matthew who live in Northern Ireland and twins Poppy and Clementine who live in England."

Rev Nelson said that wherever Winifred lived, she was regarded as "a great friend and neighbour to those around her" "She was a faithful member of Trinity Church for 70 years and attended worship faithfully every week until she moved to live in Harold McCauley Nursing Home just over 13 years ago," Rev Nelson said. "She always had a warm welcoming smile and cheery conversation for staff, fellow residents and visiting preachers alike and up until fairly recently was willing to read the scripture lesson at special services in the home." Winifred celebrated her 100th birthday last December, and was delighted when the Moderator of the Presbyterian the Church came in to visit her just prior to her 100th birthday.

She was very pleased to receive a birthday card from the newly-crowned King, and when at the time asked what the secret was in reaching 100, she replied" "there was no secret - you were just given so long to live and that was it." According to Rev Nelson, this response fitted Winifred's "stoic and pragmatic view of life", as well as "revealing her trust in almighty God, who was steadfast and true irrespective of the difficulties or joys which life throws at you." Speaking of Winifred's time at Harold McCauley House, Rev Nelson said: "She settled well into life in Harold McCauley House, and the family deeply appreciate the love care and devotion shown to Winnie during her 13 years there. "She was their longest resident and the oldest in the home at the time of her death."

She continued: "And it was in her own bed, in her own room, in Harold McCauley House that Winifred slipped peacefully away in the early hours of Saturday morning just seven weeks short of her 101st birthday. She went without any fuss or bother. Her days on earth were done. To quote from favourite poem *... "God has moved the veil from her impatient eyes and her mind is now filled with the joy and wonder of her eternal home."