Allene Alderfer Hawkins

Before Allene became the BEST mom in the world, she worked at the Belleville Shoe Factory where she helped make boots for the military. And being married to dad, the union man that he was, she even kept her union card! Then she took on the most important and hardest job of all - raising a daughter. And she was a master at it.

Allene married Roy Benjamin Hawkins on March 1, 1946. They were married 66 years and if you saw my mom, you saw my dad. I think they were joined at the hip. Mom was a quiet, generous person. She loved doing the word search puzzles and she loved to dance. Those who knew mom and dad knew that dancing was a big part of their life and that they were very, very good. She looked forward to Christmas and having family over on Christmas Eve. We will definitely miss her potato salad and sugar cookies. They were awesome!

Allene was preceded in death by her husband Roy B. Hawkins, who passed away on Jan. 5, 2013; her parents, Charles and Luella, nee Gabelman, Alderfer; one sister, Rita (Bob) Green and twin daughters, Carolyn and Marilyn, in infancy.

Surviving are her daughter, Kathy and her favorite son-in-law George Bruner; brother-in laws Earl (Mercedes) Hawkins, Howard King; nieces and nephews, Stephen Hawkins, Stacey (Carl) Hawkins-Walker, Sandra (Mark) Stein, Rick (Suzie) King, “Little” Howard King, Iva Short, Patty Wolf, Charlie (Bernice) Lingafelter, Eric Reeve, Glenn (Angela) Carr, Yvonne Green and numerous great-nieces and nephews. And we can’t forget her 4-legged granddaughter, Molly. She loved her Molly girl.

Her family would like to thank all the nurses at Anderson Hospital who took excellent care of mom on her final journey. Specifically Bonnie and Jodi in IMU and Loretta, Jayme and Erica on the 2nd Floor.

Memorials in Allene’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Hospice of Southern Illinois or Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Online condolences may be expressed at www.valhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Mom, put on your high-heels because I know dad is waiting for you for the first dance of your new lives together. I love you.

VISITATION: Friends may call from 10 to 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 20, 2014 at the Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, 3412 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville, IL

FUNERAL: Services will be held on Monday, January 20, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Cari Frus officiating. Interment will be in Valhalla Gardens of Memory.