Birth date: Sep 21, 1943 Death date: Oct 12, 2024
Gloria 'Jean' Allen, 81, of St. Helens, Oregon passed away at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Portland, Oregon on October 12, 2024. A memorial service will be help Monday October 21, 2024 at 3:00 P.M. at Columbia Funeral H Read Obituary
As the mother of one of my high school friends, Eran, she was of course one of my moms. That's just how it worked with your friends' moms. She was always one of my favorites. Her humor, spirit and easy going manner always made those around her feel comfortable and loved.
I had not seen her since high school until she had a stroke a few months ago. I visited her several times and remember her strong and positive spirit. She didn't speak many words after her stroke but she could always say "all right!" and some other basic communications. Things I would tell her about my wife and life in general would get an "all right!".
I would tell the nurses at the facility, where she was for a while after her stroke, that "Jean was a bad assed clinician, she was a Nurse Practitioner!!" She would always support my statement with an emphatic "ALL RIGHT!!!!" I always said that to make sure that the people caring for her knew she was no dummy. I wanted them to know that they were caring for someone who could be their bosses, bosses, boss and they better respect her clinician status and care well for her. I also said it to remind Jean that people knew how accomplished she was.
I saw her frustration during these visits in having so much to say but not being able to form words. Even through these significant difficulties she was very positive and making good recovery progress.
I only saw her once in her last few weeks, after her progressing cardiovascular problems and other issues had forced a move into the hospital and ultimately ended her life.
I will always remember her as one of my mom's and will certainly remember her emphatic "ALL RIGHT's" after her stroke. I feel honored to have been able to reconnect with her in these last few months.
Thanks for everything, "Eran's Mom".
