Notice regarding Coronavirus...Read More

Plan Ahead

Allen, Delores Ann

February 10, 1934 –
 September 6, 2016

Obituary

unnamed Delores Ann (Doe) Allen February 10, 1934 – September 6, 2016 Delores (Doe) took the next step in her spiritual journey on Tuesday, September 6, in Dallas. Texas. After a brief battle with aggressive acute myeloid leukemia, she spent her final hours in Season’s Hospice at Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, surrounded by family and close friends. Her Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, October 1, 2016 at 3:00PM at the First Unitarian Church, 4015 Normandy, Dallas, Texas 75205. Doe was a student, teacher, spiritual guide, mentor, and friend. She passed away at age 82 but she did not look, act, or think like a person in her advanced years. She was an inspiration and role model of honesty and integrity who imposed strict standards on her self and inspired the same in others. Her 50-year career as a Pediatric Physical Therapist included treating thousands of infants and children. For 15 years she was a clinical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at Southwestern Medical School, Dallas where she excelled in teaching pediatric neurological assessment to medical students. She completed a course in a new treatment for cerebral palsy at Stanford University and presented a paper advocating a more normal pattern of life for handicapped children. In 1970 she was invited to participate in the White House Conference on Children that led to legislation which insured that children with disabilities would have free and appropriate public education. Because of her commitment and skill, thousands of children lead happier and more productive lives. In January 2016 she joyfully celebrated 43 years as a Friend of Bill. Sobriety began her spiritual journey that led her to sponsor countless others with the courage to live one day at a time. Her quest to find answers to life’s hardest questions resulted in her being a mentor to many whose issues ranged from co-dependence to a wide range of addictions. She was a student and teacher to herself and others and she was always fully engaged in her own spiritual growth as she guided others on their paths. Doe was a student and friend of Pia Melody whose work in co-dependence was life changing and life giving to herself and all those with whom Doe shared her experience, strength and hope. Her daily practice of meditation kept her centered and open to guidance. We shall never entirely know the legends of people whom she impacted and influenced with her teaching and listening as well as with her wisdom, love and guidance. Her home is a testimony to her love of art and beauty. Her sense of personal fashion was unmatched and was a joy to herself and others. Looking her best was not an occasional endeavor; it was a commitment. After dinner each evening she even put on fresh lipstick before the TV viewing began, not occasionally, but every evening. With her attention to detail she honored others and herself. Her ragdoll cats thrived on her loving, feeding, and brushing and they returned her love in full measure. Games involving the Dallas Cowboys and Dallas Mavericks were not just idle past-times for Doe. She was a loyal fan, win or lose. Besides, there was always next year or so we wanted to believe. Doe’s accomplishments were many but the part of her we will always treasure the most is the love so freely given and received. One friend said, “She was always completely authentic, honest and intimate.” Another said, “We will encounter many souls in our lives but not one person have I ever met had the brilliance and brains to match the tiny beautiful woman whom I call my best friend.” Another expressed the high compliment that, “Her home was a safe place for all to explore.” Doe had multiple families: her biological family, her family of friends and the family formed with the person she called “the love of my life,” Lu Gaston who was her partner for 23 years. She and Lu formally married on Dec. 6, 2015 at the First Unitarian Church, Dallas, a church that welcomed them in word and deed. The loving support of the ministers, staff and congregation helped Lu and Doe find the courage to be themselves, a gift of highest value. Words cannot begin to describe the relationship that Lu and Doe forged in their 23 years together. They lived and loved with both eyes fully open to the heart and soul of each other. They learned to “stir the oatmeal” together so that the common, ordinary events and activities added a strand to the extraordinary love that bound them. One of Doe’s family of friends consisted of a very special group who gave unqualified support with their continual presence for the four days between cancer diagnosis and her final breath on September 6. Beyond that group is a treasure of an extended family of friends who know and love Doe simply because they had the good fortune to meet her. Doe was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel O. Allen and Golda Allen. She is survived by her spouse, Lu Gaston and step daughter, Donna Gaston. She is also survived by her brother and his wife, Samuel and Steffani Allen and Doe’s sister and husband, Debbie and Jim Baker. Nephew Jason Allen and niece Cary Jo Hans as well as 6 great nephews and nieces mourn the loss of their “Aunt Doe.” Those of us who remain are acutely aware that we have been greatly blessed by sharing the road with Doe Allen. Yet even in this loss, her own words give us comfort. She left us this written request: “I can only hope that you will hold me in your memory and continue living your life to the fullest with intention, purpose and awareness of this precious time with one another.” To which we reply, ”Rest well, dear Doe; ” You remain alive in us for always and we will honor your advice. We can do no less.” In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Unitarian Church or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of: ARIA Cremation Service & Funeral Home 10116 E. NW Highway Dallas, Texas 75238 214.340.8008

    Marcia Mead
    16 Sep 2016
    8:02pm

    Lu and family,

    We are still in such shock after losing our dear friend Doe.
    Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers every day. The obituary and pictures are wonderful. Such an intelligent and spiritual soul among so many other gifts. We were honored to be her friend. With much love, Marcia and Judy

    Beverly Johnston
    17 Sep 2016
    1:00am

    This was a lovely tribute, Lu. I can only regret even more than we never were able to meet her. We are thinking of you now and will hope that each day will become easier. Love you.

    Debby Thomas
    17 Sep 2016
    7:56am

    I am so sorry that I will be unable to attend the Celebration of Life but my thoughts are with you. Doe was very special and I remember fondly spending time with Lu and Doe at Unity of Dallas.

    Judy Beth McCrry
    17 Sep 2016
    12:18pm

    Doe, you will be missed, I love you, cousins forever! Jb

    Laura Sutherland
    17 Sep 2016
    3:12pm

    Lu, Doe always made me feel, no – she made it clear that I KNEW – that showing myself to her and sharing my deepest shadows was completely safe and was indeed honored by her. I always listened with my heart when she spoke because I knew she spoke from hers and therein lay great wisdom and Truth. The world is a better place for her having shared herself with us. She has left a legacy of Love that will live on for many, many years to come in the lives of everyone she touched.
    YOU are one of the reasons Doe was so fulfilled in her life. You have been her greatest blessing. And who YOU are is a testament to who she was. Love you, dear one.

    Karen Epps
    18 Sep 2016
    9:32am

    I had the pleasure of meeting Doe as an applicant for Senior Minister at Unity of Dallas in 2008. She quickly became not only a congregant but a close and cherished friend. One whose presence in my life continued beyond the brief time we spent in proximity. Doe was a confidant, friend, fellow traveler in sobriety, and someone who’s opinion I valued and respected. She was always honest, forthright and loving. Even when disturbed she chose her words wisely and as an expression of her deepest feelings rather than an “off-the-cuff” remark. I will miss our lengthy talks that covered a gamut of topics: existential, family, recovery, beauty, philosophy, politics and of course spirituality. My heart is sad to lose her so soon but joins others in knowing Doe is at peace on the next leg of her journey. Much Love & Blessings, Karen

    Melanie Rummel
    18 Sep 2016
    11:59am

    Doe was full of wisdom, so kind, loving…one of those people you just feel good being around. She knew what it was to be a loving presence in the world. Every time I saw Lu and Doe together, their love for each other shined so brightly. They supported each other, laughed and loved together, and just seeing them brightened my day. I am so thankful that I was able to know Doe, even for a short amount of time, and I send love to Lu and all of those who were blessed by Doe’s presence in their lives.

    Anne Sadovsky Sitzman
    19 Sep 2016
    11:23am

    OH! How we will miss Doe. She was always a shining light and example of unconditional love. She and Lu were very special, and we will be here to support precious Lu. God’s speed, Doe. we will neer forget you.

    Benjy and Ron Donelson
    19 Sep 2016
    3:42pm

    LuLu, that was the most beautiful tribute to your precious Doe. We are so sorry that we did not have the pleasure of knowing this amazing woman.
    Our thoughts, prayers, and much, much love go with you always.
    Benjy and Ron

    beverly travis
    19 Sep 2016
    6:07pm

    Doe was such a darling and kind person. I will always remember her sweet nature and what a wonderful partner she was to Lu. They were both an example of how to love a partner and enjoy life together. My thoughts and prayers are lifted for Lu and the entire family.

    Mary Kiefer
    22 Sep 2016
    2:26pm

    Dearest Lu: What a loving and amazing woman Doe was. Thank you for your beautiful tribute that allowed us to know even more about Doe. She has certainly left a legacy of love, kindness and compassion. We are blessed to have known Doe and will always remember her with great fondness. There won’t be a time that we will look in the seats behind us at Unity and think of you and Doe. God Bless You. Please take care of yourself during this time of grief. Sadly, we will be returning from traveling on October 1st late in the evening, so we will miss Doe’s memorial service. You are in our hearts and prayers. Love – Mary & Mike

    Greg Nipper
    29 Sep 2016
    10:09pm

    I didn’t know Doe well, as I knew her through my partner, but I will only say you didn’t have to know Doe well to know that she was special. She was the most kind, supportive, positive person there ever was. Thoughts and prayers to Lu and her family.

    Kay Brady
    30 Sep 2016
    9:33am

    Lu,

    What a wonderful tribute to Doe. Just lovely. Thank you. My heart is heavy with her absence. I don’t know how to articulate the special place Doe held in my heart and in my life. She sponsored me in my journey of recovery for the past 7 years. She was my best friend. I relied on her wisdom, spirit, and spunk to guide me in doing life. She kept me grounded, and I pause and hear her so clearly whenever I find myself lost without her. She was a brilliant teacher and mentor and a beautiful soul. I feel tremendous gratitude for the years I spent knowing, learning from, and loving her. I regret she didn’t meet my son, Lukas, as her love and support were integral to my journey to him. I love her immensely and feel her close. And, I will think of her everyday for the rest of my life.

    Blessings and love to you.
    Kay

Leave A Condolence

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Testimonials

R. Driver
Read More
"Excellent customer service, they made you feel like you were their only customer. Very helpful and explained what we should expect during the process. They basically took care of our needs during this time. They contacted DFW National Cemetery for us which made it a smooth experience. Definitely will use them again."
K. Barker
Read More
"I was amazed how professional the team at Aria Funeral Preston Dallas Texas are. They guided me through the process and my options of their services that they offered for my mother. They are compassionate, caring, calm, good listener, efficient and did an excellent job! Thank you!"
R. Woll
Read More
"If I could give 6 stars I would. Aria made a difficult easier to deal with by basically taking care of everything in an efficient but very empathetic manner. I can speak highly enough of Dusty Martin, who helped us with all of the planning and logistics. He was incredibly understanding and helpful."
Angel M.
Read More
"Nothing prepares you for the grief you go through when losing a child. I called this funeral home at 2:00 am broken and could barely talk. The amount of compassion and empathy they showed me immediately let me know I found the right place to cremate my son. I cannot thank them enough for their professionalism, SINCERE concern, and commitment to making sure my son was honored in the most respectful way. I hope this Funeral home values her as much as my family and I do."
McGee Family
Read More
"Wayne and Staff, thank you for taking care of the arrangements for our mom, Exter McGee and our dad, Philip McGee. You have been great to work with during such a difficult time."
Elledge Family
Elledge Family
Read More
"On behalf of my family, I wanted you to know how much we appreciate your handling of my husband's final arrangements. Wayne Baxter assisted & guided us through the entire process with such care & compassion. Don't know what we would have done without him! Sincerely, Colleen Elledge"
The Peterson Family
The Peterson FamilyYelp! Review - Northwest Highway 5-Stars
Read More
"I can’t say enough about how helpful and professional Dusty Martin, the funeral director at the Aria Cremation location on NW Highway has been. From my initial call, he was kind and informative. My friend died at home while on hospice and she was picked up in about an hour after receiving the call from the hospice nurse. The person who arrived to pick her up was also very professional/respectful and allowed us to take as much time with her as we wished. When I met with Dusty the next day about arrangements, he explained the process and options available without being pushy or trying to “sell” extras. Throughout the process, he kept me informed and, for example, was careful to be certain I understood the cost of the obituary I wanted and offered some options for reducing that cost if I wished. When I stopped by for another reason and started talking about some of the problems I was having with the pictures and media I hoped to use at a memorial lunch I was planning, he not only listened patiently but offered technology advice and let me use his personal media player. I have had experience arranging cremations for four others using two other local companies, and this experience with Dusty at Aria has been by far the best one I have had."
Paula Barnes
Paula BarnesGoogle Review
Read More
"My Daddy’s service and our family experience at Aria Northwest Highway was truly blessed. Funeral Director Dustin Martin is the kind of person that you would like to see on a more regular basis – but in his industry – you hope to not see him that often. That being said – THANK YOU DUSTIN for your unending kindness, compassion and friendship through the process. Meeting you and discussing Dallas History, Find A Grave and my Dad’s lifelong contributions to the great City of Dallas was simply wonderful! In memory of my dad James A. Dodd, Sr. – I want to personally thank you and let you know that you made everything better in that moment. Your calling to “Be There” is spot on. Aria has a one in a million guy in you! Bling Blinky of TEXAS Shout Out: God Bless You!!"
Previous
Next

Get In Touch

Locations

Immediate Attention

Contact Us

Preston Road

“George Bush at Preston”

Aria - Northwest Highway

“5 Miles East of Hillcrest Memorial Park / Lake Highlands”

Funeral Homes Irving Tx: Aria Cremation

“Belt Line Road at 183”

Fannin Memorial Gardens

Veterans Funeral Services

Darst Funeral Home

Search Obituaries

Search

Important Information

  1. If death has occurred and or is imminent, please call the Aria location nearest you.

    PRESTON ROAD
    214.306.6700

    NORTHWEST HIGHWAY
    214.340.8008

    BELTLINE ROAD
    972.607.4400

  2. Click here to Download the Cremation Forms.
  3. Have the cremation authorization form notarized
  4. Fax the forms back to us at:
    • NW Highway
      214-340-8009
    • Preston Rd.
      972-526-7410
    • Belt Line Rd.
      972-573-1008
 

Additional Information