Wellsville, NY - Joanne Gifford Allen, age 84, of Rauber
Street passed away on Wednesday May 13, 2020 at Jones Memorial Hospital. She
was born on July 11, 1935 in Clifton Springs to the late John Williamson and
Ina Blanche (Peck) Gifford’
Joanne was raised in Phelps and was a 1953 graduate of
Phelps Central School. In June of 1955 she graduated from SUNY Agriculture and
Technical College at Alfred with an Associates Degree. In 2000 she earned a
Baccalaureate Degree from Empire State College in Community Health. She was
employed as an Executive Secretary for the Wellsville Central School District,
for 40 years, retiring in 2005. Joanne was a census taker for the U.S. Census
Bureau for 10 years until the Spring of 2018. She was an active woman who was a
member of many organizations including the Wellsville First United Methodist
Church, Allegany County Democratic Committee, Alfred State Alumni Association,
Allegany County Art Association and the Allegany County Historical Society.
She is survived by her four sons, Curtis R. (Diana) Allen of
Andover, Thomas J. (Teresa) Allen of Marietta, OH., Douglas G. (Renee) Allen of
Rochester and David W. Allen of Cedar Park, TX; seven grandchildren; seven
great grandchildren; two sisters, Alice G. (Robert) Dowd of Rochester and
Rebecca G. (Alan) Bennett of Montrose, PA.; a brother, John C. “Jack” (Jo)
Gifford of Phelps as well as several nieces and nephews.
Friends will be invited to a memorial service to be held at
a later date at the Wellsville First United Methodist Church. Burial will be
held in Resthaven Cemetery in Phelps. Please consider memorial donations to the
charity of the donor's choice. To leave online condolences please visit www.embserfuneralhome.com.
