Thea Hildegarde Allen
September 25, 1937 – March 18, 2022
Twenty-year-old Théa Lanz’s first glimpse of Canada was the distant flickering lights of the Halifax harbour, seen from the SS Zuiderkruis, as the ship passed through Nova Scotia waters carrying the young woman to Quebec City where Ernest Allen waited for his lovely bride-to-be to come ashore. The couple wed on October 19, 1957, in his hometown of Thorold, Ontario.
The courage and sense of adventure that Théa showed in leaving her home in France to travel alone to a foreign country, to a language and culture she barely knew, would be repeated over and over, as this vivacious, kind, and beautiful soul touched countless lives across the world.
Théa and her family lived in eight countries as Ernest’s career as a Canadian diplomat took them across the globe. From their home in the quiet suburbs of Bad Godesburg, Germany; to the slopes of bustling Hong-Kong island; and their guarded, gated house in Nairobi, Kenya; Théa unfailingly created a safe, loving home for Ernest and their three children – Eric, Cindy and Joelle.
The young mother shared her lifelong love of nature with her children and later her grandchildren with long walks in the forest, and swimming in lakes, rivers and oceans. She welcomed the changes of seasons and enjoyed their diversity. And accompanied everything with song. Her world was music: Everything from Mozart to Abba, Charles Aznavour to Simon and Garfunkle. Her singing voice strong and beautiful in the church choir; by her children’s beds at night (a quieter version); or enthusiastically belting out her personal anthem, Edith Piaf’s Non, je ne regrette rien, with her friends in Mexico, arms raised, champagne in hand.
Théa was always elegant and fashionable, but as effortlessly as she hosted dignitaries at a formal dinner party, she could also throw on a bandana the next day and drive through the mud in a game park looking for wildlife. But never without her favourite perfume! Her international gourmet cooking repertoire was legendary, and she had a gift for languages – French, German, English and Spanish.
And everywhere she went, she made friends. Her magnetism lit up every room she occupied. She honoured and respected people of all races and creeds, and they loved her in return for her openness, honesty and integrity. Prince or pauper – she treated everyone the same. And nobody forgets her. Her deep love of people led her to volunteer all over the world, from the International Red Cross in Kenya and Pakistan, to caring for the injured at a small clinic in New Delhi, India
But of course, her family was everything to her. She unconditionally loved her husband and her children, and adored her four granddaughters: Rebecca, Emily, Bijou and Annabelle. Her siblings in France, Eric, Paul, Jean-Claude and Margot (dec.); and her nieces and nephews meant the world to her. She returned to France to see them as often as she could. And she held a special place in her heart for her sons-in-law: Darren and Brock (dec.).
Théa fought so very hard in her final days, as she always did for her family, but succumbed to the ravages of Alzheimer’s just before midnight on Friday, March 18th, in the arms of her husband and three children. That sad night, shining through the window of her VG hospital room was a full moon, and the shimmering lights of the Halifax harbour.
The Allens wish to thank the incredible staff at the Victoria General Hospital, whose respect and kindness for Théa and her family will never be forgotten.
A simple funeral service will be held in Théa’s honour on Saturday, April 2nd at 11:00 am at the Evangelican Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 2096 Windsor Street, Halifax. All are welcome.
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Death notice for the town of: Dartmouth, Province: Nova Scotia