Maraby Elise Allardt

Maraby Elise Allardt passed away on August 1, 2025, at Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice in Bonita Springs, FL. Maraby was born on July 15, 1932, to Basil and Edith Bentz in Muncie, Indiana. She graduated from Muncie Burris High School and Indiana University in Bloomington. She married Joseph Allardt on February 12, 1955, and they had just celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Maraby and Joe lived in Muncie until 1988, when they began spending most of their time in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. She enjoyed the many friends she met at the Creciente Condominium, as they chatted by the pool, played bridge and bingo together. She loved her morning walks on the beach.

Besides being an amazing stay-at-home Mom to her four children, she was very active in Tri Kappa, and she helped start the Muncie Meals on Wheels program. She delivered meals for over 53 years. She had knitted over 60 beautiful Christmas stockings for all of her family, including their spouses, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved her family dearly. Maraby was also well known in her family for her delicious chocolate chip cookies. They were the best! Just recently, Maraby donated her collection of 200 Beanie Babies to the Golisano Children’s Hospital in Ft. Myers, Florida.

Maraby is survived by her husband, Joseph; four children, Jay (Susan) Allardt, Jana (Dan) Reno, Brian (Janie) Allardt, and Lynn (Kenny) McCoy. She has twelve grandchildren, Joe Allardt III, Jason (Jessica) Allardt, Jay D. Allardt, Megan (Jack) Holmes, Katy (Nick) Piet, John (Andrea) Reno, Jack (Laura) Strombeck, Matt (Zoe) Allardt, Abbie (Nick) Conte, Boyd (fiancé: Kiara) McCoy, Brody McCoy, and Brock McCoy. She has sixteen great-grandchildren; Judd Allardt, Jay P. Allardt, June Maraby Allardt, Mayla Allardt, Millie Allardt, Mary Jane Holmes, Jack Holmes, Johnny Piet, Lucy Piet, Mable Reno, Danielle Reno, JP Strombeck, Ellie Strombeck, Kennedy Allardt, Olivia Bentz Allardt, and Charlie Conte. Also surviving are her sister, Julie (Paul) Hamlin, a niece, Ardith Porosky, and nephew, Jeff Devitt. One sister, Challys Bentz (Bill) Cormack, is deceased.

Maraby and Joe would like any memorial gifts directed to Joanne’s House at Hope Hospice, 27200 Imperial Parkway, Bonita Springs, FL 34135.

Memorial services will be private.