Peggy Lynn Allaire

Our dear friend Peggy Lynn Allaire entered peacefully into eternal life on the night of

February 8, 2026. Peggy was born on January 31, 1943, in Memphis, Tennessee to

William John Burghall and Laverne Holly Burghall; she lived in Memphis for the first

ten years of her life. Following her parents' divorce, Peggy and her mother moved to

Tucson in June of 1953, where Laverne married James D. Allaire, an Arizona native

and officer in the Tucson Police Department. Jim adopted Peggy soon after their marriage, and he

became her beloved Daddy. Peggy thrived in her new desert home: her family was

active in a neighborhood Baptist church, and she joined school social groups. Throughout

high school she was a member of All-State Choirs. After graduating from Rincon High School

in Tucson, Peggy moved to Phoenix and enrolled in Grand Canyon College. She graduated with

a BS Degree in Elementary Education and taught in Phoenix Elementary School District 1 for several years.

Although teaching was her first career, Peggy over the years developed the idea of

becoming a post-funeral counselor based on her own experience following the

unexpected death of her stepfather. She was for many years Director of Family Services

(a position she herself invented) for two mortuaries in Phoenix. In addition to visiting homes of those who had lost loved ones, Peggy soon became in demand as a community educator. She spoke each year to hundreds of people in grade

schools, high schools, colleges, churches and professional and social groups.

She was interviewed on radio and television and was the subject of many newspaper

articles. She also taught courses at Grand Canyon College and was a guest lecturer at

Arizona State University

Peggy turned to yet another career following those years as a professional in grief

counseling when she accepted a position as Human Services Specialist with the State

of Arizona's Administration for Children, Youth and Families. She worked closely with

members of several law firms as she became involved with cases of child abuse,

receiving high compliments from lawyers representing her clients.

After Peggy retired, she continued to help those in need…this time concentrating chiefly

on animal rescue and volunteering with rescue groups.

Peggy was an active member of churches all her life, teaching Sunday School classes

and singing in choirs. She became a Deacon and choir member in Palo Cristi

Presbyterian Church in 2008.

Shortly after moving to Beatitudes Campus in 2016, Peggy was diagnosed with

Parkinsonism and resided for the remainder of her life in the care of the loving staff of

Beatitudes Health Care Center. She was also blessed with the attention of nurses from

Hospice of the Valley.

Peggy was predeceased by her birth parents, her siblings Ron and Joyce, and her

beloved stepfather. Her niece, Pam Engle, lives in Woodstock, Georgia.

A gentle, loving soul, Peggy is survived by many friends, including Harriet ("Hootie")

Redwine, her companion of 45 years; her loving Beatitudes family of caregivers in the

Health Care Center and Beatitudes at Home, as well as her nurses and other dear

friends from Hospice of the Valley.

A Celebration of Life service for Peggy will be held in the Beatitudes Campus Life

Center, 1610 West Glendale Avenue in Phoenix, on Wednesday, April 8 at 10:00 AM.

Those wishing to honor the life of our beautiful friend may consider donations to the

Beatitudes Campus Foundation Resident Assistance Fund (1610 W. Glendale Avenue,

Phoenix, AZ 85021) or Hospice of the Valley (1510 E. Flower Street, Phoenix, AZ

85014).