Barbara Marie (McDonough) Allen of Duxbury, MA, formerly of Dorchester and Milton, MA, aged 95, passed away on Thursday, April 16th at her daughter’s home in Duxbury. She was the beloved daughter of the late John McDonough and Delia (Lydon) McDonough of Carraroe, County Galway, Ireland. Cherished wife of the late Richard M. “Dick” Allen. Devoted mother of Richard M. Allen, II and his wife Elizabeth of Naperville, IL, Barbara J. (Allen) Cleary and her husband Richard of Duxbury, MA, John M. Allen and his wife Lisa Pilorz of Newburyport, MA, Maureen Allen and her husband George Williams, II of Duxbury, MA. Proud grandmother of Jessi Gipson, Richard M. Allen, III, Gregory Allen, Delia Allen, Hope Allen, Nick Williams, George Williams, III, Delaney Williams, Dylan Allen, Alyx Allen, Gwyn Allen, Sam Tennant, Deborah Cleary, Timothy Cleary and Viv Cleary and the late James R. Cleary. Proud great-grandmother of Maeve Gipson, Greer Gipson, Lydon Gipson and Richard M. Allen, IV. Beloved sister of Thomas McDonough of Tazewell, VA and the late Rev. John P. McDonough, Mary Tarpey, and Helen McDonough. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Barbara grew up in Dorchester in a very Irish family and spoke only Irish in the house until she attended school. She went to St. Peter’s School in Dorchester and graduated from the Jeremiah Burke High School. She worked at the MBTA as a secretary and met many people who became lifelong friends. She loved attending the Irish dances at Dudley Square listening to her cousin, Johnny Powell, play at the Intercontinental and Hibernian Halls in Boston. It was at these dances that she met Dick Allen. They got married in 1955 with her brother, Fr. John, celebrating the mass. They first lived in Dorchester and later moved to Milton purchasing a two-family home so her mother could live downstairs. She and Dick adopted four children from Catholic Charities of Boston - two boys and two girls – and raised them with the importance of faith, family, getting a good education and the value of hard work. She was a parishioner at Saint Mary of the Hills parish for over 40 years until she and Dick decided to permanently move to Duxbury in 1999, razing their summer cottage and building her dream home. It became a home where many lively family gatherings created wonderful memories amongst the generations.

Barbara loved the beach, spending summers at the family cottage in Duxbury, and enjoyed many trips with family and friends. Being surrounded by her loved ones was what she loved the most. She will be remembered for her faith, love of family and dedication and care to her mother, who lived for 99 years.

​Visiting hours at the Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home, 326 Granite Ave, Milton will be Friday April 24 th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass at St. Mary of the Hills Church, Milton Saturday morning at 10:00 am. Burial to follow at Milton Cemetery.