SPRINGVALE — Barbara A. Allen, 82, of Springvale, passed away on Dec. 4, 2014 at Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford, surrounded by her family.

She was born on Sept. 25, 1932 in Revere, Massa-chusetts, a daughter of the late William J. Vaccaro Sr. and Vera Mazza-Vaccaro, and then their family moved to Springvale in 1934.

Barbara attended Sanford schools and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1950.

Barbara was married to Toppy Allen of North Berwick in 1954, starting a family shortly after.

She worked as executive secretary to the president of Sanford Trust until 1981, and then worked for Sanford Sewer district until 1983.

Toppy and Barbara moved to their home in Springvale in 1968, which they nicknamed “Serenity Hill.” Once they were settled, they formed L.V. Allen and Sons out of their basement in 1977, adding Allen’s Drilling and Blasting in 1990. Toppy and Barbara ran both businesses until Toppy’s passing in 1995, and Barbara took the reins and ran both until her passing.

Barbara enjoyed being surrounded by family, and had many family gatherings at her home. She loved spending time at the beach, and taking drives to Rangeley, where she and Toppy had built a vacation home overlooking Rangeley Lake. She was an avid Red Sox fan, but also enjoyed watching all New England sports teams. She also liked spending time at her brother’s campground in Poland, and traveling to new places whenever she had the opportunity. She fulfilled one of her life dreams when she traveled to Italy with her grandchildren and niece in 2009, visiting the home where her great-grandmother, Carmella Lanzillo-Vaccaro, grew up.

Barbara was preceded in death by: her husband, Toppy Allen; sisters, Elizabeth “Betty” Jellerson and Catherine “Cathy” Vaccaro; brother, John Vaccaro; sisters-in-law, Sheila Vaccaro, Rachel Vaccaro, Ann Vaccaro and Margaret “Peggy” Lizotte; brothers-in-law, Luke Lizotte and Rear Admiral Leon Jellerson; as well as son-in-law, Gary Manning.

Barbara leaves behind: her three siblings, William Vaccaro Jr. and his wife Phyllis, Paul Vaccaro and his wife Vicki and Thomas Vaccaro; sister-in-law, Sandra Vaccaro; her four children, David Allen and his fiancée Marian Alexandre and her son Adam, Donna Manning, Steven Allen and his wife Janet, and Susan Allaire and her husband Donald.

She also leaves behind: seven grandchildren, Tina Allen, Lisa Allen and her fiancé Jacob Owen, Julie Manning, Lindsey Cummings and her husband Zachary, Mallory Connor and her husband Matthew, Joshua Allaire and Emily Allaire; as well as one great-grandchild, Kaya Rose Owen; and several nieces and nephews.

No matter who you were to Barbara, everyone who had the privilege of meeting her saw the same thing: a beautiful, strong, kind-hearted woman, who could see the good in people, and put a smile on your face. She will be missed by all who knew her. As she always said, “This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you later!”

Visiting hours will be on Thursday from 3-6 p.m. at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations in her memory to the Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation, P.O. Box 23827, Tampa, FL 33623-3827 or www.moffitt.org. Condolences may be expressed at www.blackfuneralhomes.com.

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