Marva V. Allen

Marva Veronica Allen was born in the Republic of Panama to the late Samuel and Ella May McLaren Legister on September 22, 1939. She entered into eternal rest on March 13, 2025 at the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay, Florida.

Marva emigrated to the United States in 1961 to attend Fullerton Junior College in California where she received an Associate Degree in Nursing in 1965. Throughout her early career focusing mostly on pediatrics, Marva worked as a nurse in various hospitals in California, Georgia, Panama, and New York until 1975 when she joined the Letchworth Developmental Disabilities Service Office (Letchworth DDSO) Family Care Program located in the Hudson Valley, New York area. Committed to her educational pursuits, Marva graduated from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing.

She was employed at Letchworth DDSO for more than twenty-five years where she worked faithfully and tirelessly on behalf of people with disabilities and their caretakers to ensure quality access to essential medical and community resources. In honor of her efforts, Marva was distinguished as a recipient of the 1994 New York State Legislature’s Nurse of Distinction designation which is based upon significant contributions to the field of nursing. Previous awards include the 1964 Woman of Distinction from Fullerton Junior College in California; and the 1974 Nurse of Service Recognition from Gorgas Hospital in Panama’s then Balboa, Canal Zone.

While in Newburgh, Marva was not only a dutiful and caring nurse, she was also a community servant. She served as an active member of St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church in Newburgh and volunteered with Orange County’s Meal-on-Wheels program. Marva was also a co-founder of the St. Martin de Porras Society, which provides outreach to needy individuals and families in the Newburgh area. Mom also participated in Curisillo, a Catholic-based spiritual movement, and became a Cursillista in 1987.

In 2002, Marva retired from Letchworth DDSO and subsequently relocated to Palm Bay, Florida in 2005 where she resumed her ministry and community service activities. She was an active member of Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church in Palm Bay. She was involved in various ministries through the years including as a Gospel reader lecturer, Rosary Guild, Ministry of Holy Communion, the Baptismal Ministry and most notably the 55 and Up Ministry. Marva displayed her fine sense of fashion, style, and grace through her co-coordination of 55 and Up’s extraordinary Annual Fashion Show fundraiser for Our Lady of Grace. Marva participated in the “Taste of Grace” at Our Lady of Grace by proudly representing her beloved home country the Republic of Panama. As a devout Catholic, Marva worked closely with the Diocese of Orlando as a local training facilitator of the “Why Catholic Journey Through the Catechism,” an evangelization group. Marva also served the larger Palm Bay community as a Charter Founding Member of the Palm Bay Progressive Lions Club for which she coordinated the “Sight Program” to provide new eyeglasses to those in need.

As many know, Marva’s celebrated hobby was sewing. Her designs and wares have adorned countless brides, prom goers, babies, window treatments, and more. She enjoyed gardening, singing, dancing, travelling and collecting fine antiques and porcelain. She was also a doll collector who named each doll after beloved family members. Marva’s greatest joy, however, was the love she derived from spending time with family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her brother Harry Legister, her sisters Lawlice (Lola) Scott, Lavinia (Chichi) Fleming, June Mercedes Legister de Malcolm, Linda Legister Malloy, and her cherished “father figure” from childhood, Ronald Malcolm, affectionally called “Daddy.”

Marva is survived by her son Randolph E. Allen, Jr. and her daughter Anjeanette M. Allen. She is also survived by numerous God-children, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A visitation for family and friends for Marva will be held Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 4-7 pm at Fountainhead Funeral Home, 7359 Babcock street SE, Palm Bay, Florida.

On Monday, March 31, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM we will have a visitation at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 300 Malabar Road, Palm Bay, Florida, with a Catholic Funeral Mass to follow at 12:00 PM. The committal service will be at 1:30 PM at Fountainhead Memorial Park, 7303 Babcock Street SE, Palm Bay, Florida.