Last rites have been held for Mrs Gwen Marie Allen who lived among us for an astounding period of 107 years, two months, three days, four hours and five minutes to be exact and she did it HER way. Mrs Allen was the sparkplug and the last in the family of outstanding achievers, each of whom left indelible impressions on the pages of Bermuda’s social, cultural and political history.

Naming a few in passing were: Wilfred (Mose) Allen one of the founding members of the Bermuda Progressive Party, Yvonne Blackett the mother of famed soloist Joy Blackett, Godfrey Allen, renowned in the hospitality field and leader of one of Bermuda’s biggest choral groups; trumpeter Mansfield Allen, Cora Trott, grandmother of famed journalist Ayo Johnson, Gladys Davis, Virginia Allen and Esther Bentley, who also died in her 107th year.

Gwen Marie Allen was born in Bermuda on May 9, 1907 to John Richard and Helena Smith Allen. Gwen Marie lived to the fullest. She married in Bermuda to the late Wesley Trott. She left her marriage when she left her homeland. The lure of America attracted her to New York in 1944, where she resided until her death on October 19, 2014.

Gwen found work easily caring for newborns initially. When her employers literally begged her to stay on to care for their babies, she refused at first. For a special few she would stay on for awhile as a Nanny but only until the pull of a new baby and new challenges would lead her to a new job with new children to love.

Gwen earned respect. She was superlative at her job with the ability to cuddle a crying child to sleep in minutes. She could also be a Drill Sergeant, putting a child to task doing chores, homework and anything else she wanted. And they loved it and her. Moving on to her next assignment was always difficult, some of the children she cared for remained “her children” into adulthood and until they were parents and grandparents. Exceptionally intelligent and opinionated, she demanded respect and got it. The children she cared for addressed her only as Miss Allen, and so did their parents and their Fortune 400 guests.

Gwen always needed new babies to love and hold, and new shores to visit. She travelled the world seeing America first, then Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Christmas and birthdays meant gifts, greeting cards and photographs from all over the globe. Gwen was petite, trim, classically stylish and when the occasion arose she was a show-stopper. She preferred custom-made clothes, and accepted the attention and compliments as only she could. She dined in the finest restaurants, all over the world, met the famous and infamous and danced, sang, and enjoyed life to the fullest.

Gwen filled her life and the lives of those around her with love, laughter, travel and she did what she wanted when she wanted. A “free spirit”, with the heart of a child Gwen could captivate one in minutes and put others in their places in a matter of seconds. But you could win her heart immediately if you were a child. Anyone else might get a gracious nod but in her later years if you crossed her palm with candy you’d be graced with a dazzling smile you would never forget. In her younger years, Gwen was vivacious; and the later stages of her life, she was just gracious.

Gwen returned to Bermuda for visits. But New York was home to her. She fell in love with New York in a mutual relationship. She would say she lived in New York far longer than she had in Bermuda and she remained in New York until her death. Until the day she died Gwen was a living example of what Frank Sinatra, her favourite singer, sang. It applied fittingly to Gwen, she did it ‘HER’ way.

I knew Gwen personally and yours truly is indebted to Eloise Dzofonoo, for going into her archives for assisting in this feature. Eloise was a well-known music teacher and is the oldest of Gwen Marie’s nieces. She had this to say in describing Aunt Gwenie: “She was the last of a musical family of ten children with notable musical talents. She was a generous, flamboyant, free spirit and one who exuded the joy of life. Her memory will linger in my heart always. After 107 years of an exciting life she is finally at rest.”