Sister Karen Allen, OSF 1927-2024

Sister Karen Allen, OSF, who led a ministry of education and retreat work that spanned nearly 70 years, died Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Stella Niagara Health Center. She was 97.

The former Joan Allen was born to Francis and Florence (Schaub) Allen, on Feb. 28, 1927, in Buffalo. She attended Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart and Rosary Hill College, both in Amherst, before earning a master of fine arts degree from Rochester Institute of Technology.

She also had certification in Reflexology and Shiatsu Acupressure Therapist.    

Sister Karen entered into the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity on Sept. 25, 1945, at Stella Niagara. She made her first profession of vows on Aug. 18, 1947 and her final vows exactly three years later.

She taught at St. Anthony Hall in Warsaw, St. Lawrence School in Buffalo, Sacred Heart Academy in Eggertsville, St. Benedict School in Eggertsville, and Bishop McMahon High School in Buffalo. Her retreat work was based around Stella Niagara’s Center for Renewal.  She also taught in the dioceses of Columbus, Ohio, and Trenton, New Jersey.

She retired in 2022, and moved to the Stella Niagara Health Center in October 2023.

Sister Karen spent many years working on and advocating for environmental issues. At Stella Niagara she spearheaded the “Stella as Earth Center” committee and the later “Environmental Concerns” committee.  She was instrumental in the development of the Stations of Creation, guides to trees on the Stella Niagara campus, various natural beautification efforts, and was a consistent advocate for recycling on the campus.  She was also a faithful attendee at local hearings and information sessions on environmental issues in the Lewiston area.

She is predeceased by her parents and brother, James Allen.A funeral Mass will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6, at Stella Niagara. Burial will follow at the Sisters’ Cemetery, Stella Niagara.