Joy Lynn Allen

SIDNEY -- Joy Lynn Allen, 52, of Sidney was a person who enjoyed life to its fullest and did not allow cancer to rule her life. Joy became a guardian angel for her family and friends on Sunday morning, March 14, 2010. May she touch as many on her continuing spiritual journey as she did here on earth.

Joy was born April 27, 1957, in Waterville, a daughter of Robert Furbush and Sandra (Bessey) Noel. She grew up in Oakland and attended Messalonskee High School, graduating in 1975.

On March 14, 1975, she married Terry Allen at the Allen Farmstead in Sidney and resided in Sidney for more than the last 30 years.

Joy was employed by Central Maine Power Company for more than 20 years; the loving, caring support of her co-workers went above and beyond what she could have ever imagined.

She enjoyed the youth of the 70s. Having a family at an early age, she lived a simple life, gardened, made homemade clothes, loved sharing, bartering and hand-me-downs. She had a great appreciation of giving back to the earth; reducing, reusing and recycling, which she carried on throughout her life.

She loved nothing more than spending time with her family and friends. Some of her favorite pastimes were sitting on the back porch with her husband while listening to the Red Sox on the radio, watching and listening to RemDog and Don O on television, quilting, reading and gardening. Joy was a member of the "Stitching Witches" quilt group of Winslow. She collected 1930s and '40s reproduction fabrics, new and old hankies and buttons. She also loved cute little boxes and pins.

One of her greatest achievements was raising her two loving sons, who have both turned out to be wonderful young men. Ryan and Kyle are both married to two very special women, and she was sure they will raise her grandchildren to become as loving as they all are.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 35 years, Terry Allen, of Sidney (and people said it wouldn't last) -- he could always make her laugh; her parents, father Robert Furbush and his wife, Kay, of Sidney, and mother Sandra Noel and her husband, Bernie, of Oakland; her sons, Ryan Allen and his wife, Stephanie, of Fremont, N.H., and Kyle Allen and his wife, Megan, of Vassalboro; her two beautiful grandchildren, Caroline and Nathan Allen; her Siamese cat and constant companion, Mi Sing; her siblings, sister Sonja Noel and her husband, Andy, of Sidney, brother Randy Furbush and his wife, Melody, of Oakland, and sister Bobbi-Jean Dumsha and her husband, Arnie, of Edgewater, Fla.; father-in-law Bernard Allen, of Sidney; brother-in-law Craig Allen and his wife, Brenda, of Sidney; sister-in-law Sherry Pike and her husband, Jeff, of Winthrop; very special friends Judy Reny (so many sewing projects, so little time), Joyce Todd (her youthful fairy godmother) and Patti Drake (fun times at Damariscotta Lake); as well as many cousins and many special nephews and nieces.

She was predeceased by her mother-in-law, Shirley Allen; and her other Siamese cat and constant companion, Lang-Son.

Terry and Joy couldn't imagine how they would have made it through those last few months without the help of her mother. She cared for Joy, cooked, cleaned and kept everything running smoothly. Joy always said, "Once a mother, always a mother," and Sandi certainly lived up to that.

Joy's special angel here on earth, Sacha Renee Genest, is a wonderful young woman who became the daughter she never had. Words cannot describe how loving, caring and thoughtful she is. She never missed an appointment no matter how hectic her schedule was. She was always there for Joy through good times and bad. She was always a comfort to her whether with laughter or tears. She never let Joy down. They grew so close over time with their thoughts and feelings that they knew how each other felt without any words.

The family would like to convey special appreciation to Dr. Christopher Darus of Maine Women's Surgery/Cancer Center, the staff at Maine Medical Center Gibson Pavilion, and the doctors and staff at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care and Hospice of Waterville.

"Friends are like stars, you don't always see them, but you know they are always there." -- Author Unknown

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Joy's life at 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon, March 18, at Wiles Remembrance Center, 137 Farmington Falls Road, U.S. Route 2 and Route 27, Farmington, with Rhonda Wiles-Rosell as celebrant. Following services, a reception will be held at the center. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, remembrance gifts may be given to the charity of one's choice.

Private family committal services will be held later at Sawtelle Cemetery, Pond Road, Sidney. Condolences and tributes may be shared with her family at www.wilesrc.com.