Middlesex, VT

Priscilla Mildred "Pat" Wood Allen, RN, MSN; 97, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2025, at Heaton Woods Residence in Montpelier. Born in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, on May 11, 1927, she was the eldest of the four children of Edith Priscilla (Thurston) and Herbert John Wood. She was raised in South Kirby on the family dairy farm with her siblings Albert, Marian, and Donald, and attended its one-room schoolhouse. She was a graduate of Judevine Memorial High School in Concord, Vermont, and of Brightlook Hospital School of Nursing in St. Johnsbury.

Pat continued her nursing education, studying at intervals while employed. She was awarded Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Simmons College (Boston) in 1963, and Master of Science in Nursing from Boston University in 1964.

She married Frank Albert Allen of Boston, Massachusetts, and Middlesex, Vermont, on October 18, 1948, having met at a USO dance. They made their home in Barre until 1960. Upon the death of Frank's father, they settled in Middlesex, first in the Allen home to support Frank's mother, then in the home they built next door. After Frank's retirement in 1989, they spent the winter months at their Florida homes, first in Naples, then Homosassa and Hudson. In 2005, they returned to live in Middlesex full time. Frank and Pat enjoyed nearly 66 years of marriage. When Frank passed in 2014, Pat moved to Heaton Woods Residence.

Pat's active nursing career spanned more than fifty years. First as nursing supervisor at Brightlook Hospital, St. Johnsbury, then in both staff and private duty nursing at Heaton Hospital, Montpelier, and Barre City Hospital. In 1954, Pat accepted a public health nursing position with the Vermont Department of Health, and for nearly twenty years served the State of Vermont at all levels of public health nursing including staff and supervisory positions (her favorite: she loved her work with the visiting nurses in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom) and as Chief of Home Health Services and assistant director of the Division of Public Health Nursing. In the field of nursing education, Pat was instructor of maternal child nursing at Vermont College, Montpelier, and assistant professor and director of continuing education for nurses at the University of Vermont, Burlington.

Other professional activities included leadership roles in the Vermont State Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, and the National League for Nursing-New England Region. As Executive Director of the Vermont State Board of Nursing, she was a member of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, and an appointee to the Governor's Commission on Women. For a short time, Pat also served the Vermont Assembly of Home Health Agencies as Executive Director. She enjoyed lobbying activities at the Vermont Legislature for both the Vermont State Nurses Association and the Vermont Assembly of Home Health Agencies.

In 1986, Pat was awarded membership in the Nursing Honor Society of the University of Vermont, and was a long-time member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Pat was honored to be twice named Distinguished Nurse of the Year (1976 and 1987) by her nursing colleagues. In 2000, the Vermont State Nurses Foundation established a nursing scholarship in Pat and Frank's name in recognition of Pat's leadership role in coordinating, editing, writing, and publication of a history of nursing in Vermont, Voices of Vermont Nurses.

In 2011, the Vermont State Nurses' Association presented Pat with their Lifetime Achievement Award for her service as Historian for Nursing in Vermont, Executive Director of the Vermont State Board of Nursing, President of the Vermont State Nurses' Association, and her lifelong contributions to the Profession of Nursing in Vermont. Pat's commitment to nursing was without question and she often spoke of the endless opportunities available to individuals through nursing education and experience, and more importantly, the valued friends and professional relationships that had been her privilege to enjoy throughout her nursing career.

Pat was active in her community. She was the first woman to be a member of the Middlesex Board of Selectmen. She was a devout member of the Middlesex United Methodist Church and served her

church in a variety of capacities. Also active in the family business in Middlesex, Pat studied in the Business Administration Program at the University of Vermont, provided office management, and

shared with her husband in his activities at the state and national levels of the National Water Well Association, including membership on the women's board of the national association. This involvement afforded the opportunity for extensive travel that they especially enjoyed.

Pat's affinity for study naturally lead to her interest in genealogy. She researched and produced family histories for both Allen and Wood lineages.

Although childless, Pat's family was the focus of her life. Frank and Pat were deeply committed to each other, to their parents, their brothers and sisters, and to their nieces and nephews, each of whom contributed in a very special way to the joy of their lives. Pat cherished her Church family and her wonderful friends and neighbors, both in Vermont and Florida, who gave meaning and fulfillment to her life after retirement.

Pat is survived by nieces Leslie (Cedric) Sanborn of Barre, Jane (Doug) Bengston of St. Johnsbury, Linda (Jerry) Sherman of Concord, and nephews Roger (Joy) Wood of Concord, Jim (Jennifer) Wood of South Kirby, Steven Wood of Lyndonville, Greg (Pam) Wood of Barnet, Mitchell Warden of Pensacola Florida, and Frank Warden of Gulf Breeze Florida.

Pat often spoke highly of the staff at Heaton Woods, and particularly enjoyed socializing (and on occasion, sparring) with the nursing staff. The family thanks the kind and caring staff at Heaton Woods who looked after her for more than ten years, and express appreciation for the supportive visits from the staff of Bayada Hospice.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday, May 29th at 2:00 pm at the Middlesex Center Cemetery.

urial and memorial services will be held in the spring at the Allen family lot at Middlesex Center Cemetery. Guare & Sons of Montpelier is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the Residents' Activity Fund, Heaton Woods Residence, 10 Heaton Street, Montpelier VT 05602. Online condolences and reminiscences may be shared at www.guareandsons.com.