Obituary of Catherine R. Allen

"My dear child, I love you and I would never leave you..." A mother is the truest friend we have and her love remains infinite, passing the torch of life, transcending generation to generation. Catherine R. Allen (nee Price) was a dedicated wife, doting mother and proud grandmother who was a witness of what faith and family was about. Catherine was a survivor but God had seen she was getting tired. On Thursday October 18, 2012 Catherine breathed forth her spirit, in peace, to be with her grandson Michael Francis, Jr. and her soul rose like incense from her home in Voorhees. Mrs. Allen was born to a large family in Cleveland, OH and had spent her early years in the small town of Cape Vincent, NY before moving to Voorhees, NJ, in 1973. Catherine was a homemaker who took care of it all! She adored children and opened her home to them for over 25 years. Mrs. Allen loved to cook and bake especially pumpkin pies and a large variety of cookies, around the holidays. Affectionately called "Casino Cathy", she enjoyed playing card games and betting her luck at the casinos. She was a passionate Philadelphia sports fan who cheered on all her hometown teams. During her childhood Cathy was an athlete and played on every team in Cape Vincent. She was an accomplished high diver and continued to teach children how to dive and swim through the years. Catherine was a Lifetime Auxiliary Member of the American Legion, John C. Launderville Post 832 in Cape Vincent and a Parishioner of St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Gibbsboro. Mrs. Allen's grandchildren were the center of her universe. She would tell stories about them to whoever would listen. Her love and affection for children is an endearing legacy of open arms and an open heart. Mrs. Allen leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 53 years, Michael Allen. She is the mother of Cathy & her husband Michael Lorenzo, Michael & his wife Michele, Jim & his wife Hope and Elizabeth & her husband Edward Bortz. Catherine is the proud grandmother of the late Michael Francis Jr., Joe, Jenny, Matt, Gabriela, Michael Jess, Cori, Alex, Andrew and Austin. She is the daughter of the late Joseph Price and Genevieve (nee Fraley). She is the sister of Joan Gosier, Dorothy Hinckley, Tom Price and the late Richard Price, Francis Price, Beatrice Branche, George Price, Margaret Mannigan, David Price, and Carol Rothoff. Mrs. Allen is also survived by sisters in-law, brothers in-law, many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and friends. Relatives and friends are invited to join the Allen family to remember Cathy and pay tribute to a mother's love on Wednesday evening between 7:00 and 9:00 pm and Thursday morning between 9:00 and 10:00 am at the LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home 441 White Horse Pike, Atco. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:00 am at St. Andrew The Apostle Church, 27 Kresson Gibbsboro Rd., Gibbsboro. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Berlin. Honoring her love of children, in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Foundation Lockbox #1352 P.O. Box 8500 Philadelphia, PA 19178-1352. www.chop.edu