Obituary of Suzanne Swenson Allen

Suzanne Swenson Allen of Duxbury, MA, died peacefully on Friday, July 11, 2014, two days before her 93rd birthday. Born on July 13, 1921 in South Orange, NJ, Sue was the daughter of Dorothy Wharton Mendelson Swenson and Svante Magnus Swenson. Sue spent her childhood summers with her family in Hyannisport. She graduated with a degree in Childhood Education from Smith College in 1943. Sue met her husband, Ross E. Allen, on a blind date in 1944. It was wartime and they were engaged 10 days later. Their amazing marriage lasted nearly 60 years, when Ross passed away in 2004. In the early days of their marriage, Sue and Ross moved to Saco, Maine, where their first two children, Woody and Dorrie, were born. In 1950, Ross's company moved them to the Carolinas, where daughters Sandy, Paige and Andrea were born. They spent 14 happy years in the south, forming life-long friendships, before moving north to Duxbury in 1964. Sue was an avid tennis player and golfer, who's fluid golf swing was the envy of many. She helped organize the first indoor tennis club in the area, now Kingsbury Club, and was instrumental in bringing paddle tennis to Duxbury. After retirement, Sue and Ross spent their winters in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, forming new friendships and enjoying visits from children and grandchildren. Sue's greatest joys in her life were her marriage and children, including 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her infectious smile and wonderful sense of humor will be remembered by all those who were lucky enough to have known her. Aside from her immediate children, Sue is survived by her 10 grandchildren: Ryan Fleming, Kristin Fleming Dolezal, Julie Allen Whittington, Amanda Allen, Lauren Arnold Boyd, Andrew Arnold, Alexandra Carter, Max Carter, Dustin Turin and Sawyer Theriault. She also has 13 great-granchildren, including three sets of twins and was the sister of the late Barbara Elmore Baker and Eric Pierson Swenson. A private celebration of her life will be held in the Fall. Donations in memory of Suzanne Swenson Allen may be made to The New England Home for Little Wanderers, 271 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 or Crossroads for Kids, Inc., 119 Myrtle Street, Duxbury, MA 02332.