Anna Lee Carey Van Allen, 97, died August 14th, near Naugatuck, CT, her home for 65 years.
Born in Rose Valley, PA to Jessie and Harry Lee Carey, she attended Friends Central School and graduated from Penn State University ’42. She dedicated her life to raising five children and volunteering for her community in extraordinary ways. With her husband, Robert William Van Allen, she founded the United Way of Naugatuck in 1962. She was honored by that organization in 2007 with a community service award named “The Van Allen Medal.”
She held many roles at the Naugatuck Congregational Church including: the first woman moderator, president of the Litchfield District, and State Women’s Fellowship. Keenly interested in local politics, she was elected a Senior Burgess of Naugatuck and served as acting mayor of the town. Her grandchildren still have campaign buttons with the slogan “ALVA for Burgess!” an acronym that persisted for the rest of her life. She was on the Park Board Commission, the Environmental Advisory Board, the Human Resources Committee, the Youth Advisory, and served as the Constitutional Bicentennial chair.
She ran in 1971 as a Republican for state representative and served on the State Board of the Connecticut Girl Scout Council, and Chairperson of the Naugatuck Chapter of the American Red Cross, Above all, she treasured time with her family.
She loved summers in Quonochontaug RI, competitive tennis, and large family gatherings. Her husband Robert, died in 2004 after 63 years of marriage.
She leaves four daughters and a son: Patricia Van Allen Voigt of Chestnut Hill PA (Fred); Lee Van Allen Roberts of Katonah, NY (Ken); Margaret Van Allen Albert of Wareham, MA (David); Beth Van Allen Van der Veer (Paul) of Marion, MA; and R. Mark Van Allen of New Haven, CT (Jane). She has eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held Sunday September 17, 2017 at the Naugatuck Congregational Church, Naugatuck CT at 3 pm.
