Mary Ellen Patricia Allen (Worden), 80, of Chatfield, passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester. She was born on September 9, 1936 to Elmer and Marie (Lundt) Worden at Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester.
Mary Ellen grew up in Chatfield, Minn., where she graduated high school in 1954. After high school, Mary Ellen attended Mayo Clinic College of Medicine to become a medical stenographer. Shortly later, she married her soulmate, Wayne Allen, on January 28, 1955. After marriage, Wayne and Mary Ellen moved to Alaska, where she worked as a secretary at the Army headquarters for a brief period. When they returned to Chatfield in 1956, they took over the family farm, and began expanding their family. Wayne and Mary Ellen had three beautiful children: Debra (Roger) Munchbach of Chandler, Ariz., Mark (Ann) Allen of Pueblo, Colo., and Mike (Kim) Allen of Rochester. Mary Ellen worked as a secretary at Chatfield schools and the vet clinic in Chatfield for several years. Mary Ellen endured an immense willpower, which was evident when she survived a serious accident in 1973, and another health challenge in 1992, which led to her retirement. At that time, Wayne committed to caring for Mary Ellen to ensure she was able to live the happiest life.
Mary Ellen had a rich and honest personality filled with love and compassion for her family, friends, and church. Upon meeting someone, she considered you as family and loved you dearly. Her eight grandchildren: Luke (Sarah) Allen, Marissa Allen, Andrew (Brandy) Allen, Alex (Audra) Munchbach, Joshua Allen, Brandon Allen, Brianna Allen, and Allyssa Allen; and three great-grandchildren, Taylor, Aubrey, and John Wayne Allen meant the world to her, and were the sunshine to her days. Mary Ellen loved having her family together, parties, playing cards with her friends and family, traveling to visit family, clocks, visiting on the telephone with those she loved, and sharing memories had with Wayne. Her family will always remember the many memories had with her. She never ceased to make others smile, and she never left you forgotten to how loved you really are.
Besides her husband, children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, Mary Ellen is survived by her siblings Robert (Glennys) Worden, Florence (Sharon) Worden, Karen (Dennis) Hillfich of Michigan, Carol (Pat) Engelhard, and Duane (Gretamea) Worden, and Wally Young. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Geraldine (Jim) Furgeson, Norma (Bernie) Baker, Elmer Worden, and Liz Young.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in memory of Mary Ellen may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church. Memorials will be given to help fund handicapped accessibility for attendees at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, May 20 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chatfield, with Pastor Peter J. Haugen officiating. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Riley Funeral Home in Chatfield and continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday. She will be laid to rest at St. Paul Lutheran cemetery in Chatfield immediately following the service and luncheon will be served after in the church basement. Riley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left online at www.RileyFuneralHomes.com.