Berniece Allen

Berniece Mary Anderwald Allen, 95 of Canyon, Texas died March 13, 2025 at the Craig Assisted Living Center in Amarillo concluding a long, full and happy lifetime. Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Canyon. Interment will follow at Dreamland Cemetery. A vigil will be held at 6:00 P.M. on Monday, March 17, 2025 at St. Ann's Catholic Church with a visitation in the hall afterwards. Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Home. On the 2nd of May 1929, she was born in Lark, Texas, the daughter of the late Mark Henry Anderwald and Mary Margaret Rapstine Anderwald. She was a graduate of Happy High school. She met Ted on a blind date and knew quickly she loved him and they'd end up together. He quickly learned she was right, as she often was and they began planning their life. She married Oscar Theodore "Ted" Allen on November 18, 1948 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Amarillo. Together they shared 38 years of happy marriage and began the legacy of the large family and friends that celebrate her life and mourn the loss of her today. During her lifetime, she worked as a switchboard operator for AT&T and as a Rural Route Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service in both Amarillo and Canyon for 21 years. She was also a delegate to and attended many conventions of the National and Texas Rural Letter Carrier Association Conventions. She and Ted were founding members of St Ann's Catholic Church in Canyon and very active in many ministries, committees and organizations there. One of those was a grief group she led for many years and found so much strength in all she learned sharing her own grief and helping others journey into theirs. Berniece could be found making people laugh, feel included and knowing exactly in what ways they could help. She answered to many names but her favorites were Mom and Grandma. She loved to share all the ways she was so proud of her family. After Ted passed and the kids were raised, she loved traveling and making new friends on bus tours, river cruises around the US and throughout Europe. She could often be found with a grandkid at her house teaching them to bake apple pie or her famous banana bread, playing card games, puzzling or teaching them to sew. Berneice's home was a place of love and community. It was loud, full and there were always pickles. Berneice loved being outdoors. She enjoyed camping with her family, fishing, and gardening. She thrived on hosting those she cared about in her home and her laugh was contagious. Berniece enjoyed the occasional trips to casinos and when she couldn't make the trip she'd settle for playing the little slot machine game her kids got her at home. She was full of life, wit, stubbornness and a little bit of sass that she passed on to all of her children and grandchildren. Her legacy will be carried on by the boisterous family she led for many years. They hope to make her proud by bringing people together, sharing meals, and many laughs. She was preceded in death by husband Ted Allen; brothers Durward and Edward Anderwald; sons Jerome Eugene and Patrick Tracy Allen and daughter Beverly Allen Cothern. Survivors include a sister, Dolores Rossi of Tulia; sons Kelvin and wife Cindy of Canyon, Tom Allen and Ron Allen, both of Amarillo, daughters Sharon Harvell of Canyon, Tammie Allen Gray and husband Larry of Amarillo and Shelly Butler Allen of Canyon. In addition, and much to her delight, she is survived by 18 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.