Linda Allen, a beloved nurse at Westbrook Middle School, who devoted her life to family and helping others, died Nov. 27 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease. She was 69.
Mrs. Allen was a highly respected nurse at Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she worked in its intensive care unit for 10 years. From there, she became a nurse for Westbrook Schools. For the past 20 years, she was the school nurse at Wescott Jr. High School, which is now Westbrook Middle School. She retired at the end of the school year in 2012.
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“She was an excellent nurse,” said Matt Nelson, principal of the middle school. “She very much cared about all the students here. She made sure they were all healthy. She made sure they didn’t go without, sometimes reaching into her own pocket. She was always willing to do what was needed to help the kids out.”
Mrs. Allen was loved by students and faculty. Nelson said she spearheaded their annual giving tree program to support kids of families who are less fortunate. Back in 2007, students dedicated the school yearbook to her.
“The kids loved her,” the principal said. “She was very popular to the point that she became their number one supporter. She was very adored by the students. In many ways, she was just was the heart of the school because of her giving nature and wanting to help.”
Helping others came naturally to Mrs. Allen. She was the oldest of eight children and was a mother figure to her siblings. She attended Portland schools before moving to Waldoboro her senior year. She attended Waldoboro High School and was elected senior class president. She graduated in 1968, then went to medical school.
That same year she married Dana Allen of Portland, her husband for 46 years. He spoke with overwhelming emotion Wednesday, recalling a woman who touched so many lives.
“She was an angel on Earth,” he said. “Oh my Lord, she spent her entire life caring for others.”
He noted her roles as both a nurse and wife, but also a mother to their four sons. She loved spending time with family at Higgins Beach, where they had a cottage for many years. Other favorites were Two Lights State Park, DiMillo’s and shopping in Boston for Christmas. Her husband said he feels blessed to have been with her for so long.
“I’ll miss being together. It didn’t matter where, when or how … just being together to maybe to take a ride or go to dinner together. The thing we enjoyed was each other and being at home. I couldn’t wait to get home from work to see her.”
Less than a year ago, Mrs. Allen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Two days before she died, her husband set up the Christmas tree and decorated it with lights and family ornaments. Her husband said Christmas was her favorite time of year.
“She saw the tree lit up and she smiled,” he said, reflecting on his life without her. “I’ll miss everything about her. I’ll miss her terribly.”
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