Caroline E. (Rafuse) Allen

Lincoln – Caroline E. (Rafuse) Allen, formerly of Lincoln, passed away on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. She was 89 years old and was married to the love of her life, Robert A. “Bob” Allen for 65 years. She was a daughter of the late J. Harold and Jessie (Burns) Rafuse.

   Affectionately referred to as “Chief” by her husband and two children, and as “Nana” by her four adoring grandchildren, Caroline was born in Valley Falls, Rhode Island and graduated from Cumberland High School in 1947. She served on her class’s reunion committee for many years and had a core group of classmates that remained close throughout the years.

   Caroline graduated from Bryant School of Business in 1949.

   Caroline worked for Shaw Paper Box and Brown & Sharpe until a few months before the birth of her first child in 1963 when she and Bob decided she should stay home and run the operation there while Bob started a new company. While Caroline made all the meals, cut the lawn, fixed what needed to be fixed, shuttled the kids everywhere and paid the bills, Bob’s company thrived. The partnership paid off when Bob was able to sell out, and he and Caroline moved from Lincoln to Holmes Beach, Florida in 1983, then to Bradenton, Florida before coming back to Rhode Island in 2018. Still, every summer they returned to their slice of heaven on West Island in Fairhaven, Massachusetts to catch up with family and friends.

   Caroline was a longtime member of Smithfield Avenue Congregational Church, Pawtucket.

   Besides her beloved husband, she leaves a son, Douglas H. Allen (formerly of Lincoln) and his wife Carla of Fayetteville, New York; a daughter, Lynne Davis and her husband John of Riverside, with whom she and Bob made their home; four grandchildren, Samantha and Bennett Allen, and Casey and Jessie Davis; and many loving nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Harold W. Rafuse.

   Her visiting hours will be held Tuesday, June 30 from 12:30-2 P.M. followed by her services at 2 P.M. at Bellows Funeral Chapel, 160 River Road, Lincoln. Her burial will be private. In lieu of flowers and to best remember Caroline, please take an old friend out to lunch and catch up. She would like that. For Directions and Guest Book, please visit www.bellowsfuneralchapel.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Caroline E. (Rafuse) Allen, please visit our floral store.