You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she’ll come back, or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her, or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday, or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she’s gone, or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back, or you can do what she’d want:
Smile, open your eyes, love and live on.
– anonymous, some attribute it to Charles Henry Brent.
Obituary
Allegra “Lee” S. Bloy died peacefully on the 17th day of March, 2008, age 79, at the HospiceCare Center, Fitchburg, on Monday, March 17, 2008. She was born January 15, 1929, in Black Creek, Wisconsin. She was baptized, child of God, as Allegra Shirley Reitz, the daughter of Frieda A. (Brandt) and Herbert M. Reitz. Childhood and days of her youth were lived in Appleton, Wisconsin, where she graduated from Appleton West High School in 1947.
On August 5, 1950, she married the Rev. Wilmer Bloy, and for 57 years she was his loving wife and helpmate. They began married life in Naperville, Illinois, participating in college and seminary life with other married students while Wil completed his bachelor’s degree at North Central College, and then his theology degree at Evangelical Theological Seminary. During that period Lee was an original member and president of SemAnnes, the theological student wives organization. Then followed her ability and work to make a home for her husband and family in the various parsonages of the churches that her husband served, including Madison, Milwaukee and Wausau. Along with her husband she retired in 1991 and lived in Sun Prairie, until 2000 when they moved to Oakwood Village East.
Throughout all her life she was first of all a caring, concerned and affectionate mother of four children. Secondly, she patiently endured the burdens, and joyfully shared the blessings of a supportive pastor’s spouse, being a confidant and partner extraordinaire to her husband in the ministry of the church. She was always involved behind the scenes in many church activities, including serving as president and leader of a large women’s group at the Bay View United Methodist church, Milwaukee. Though her church roots were in the former Evangelische Gemeindschaft Kirche, she had a strong ecumenical belief that God as known in Christ was much greater than any one denomination. In addition to the volunteering she did, she worked as a part time library assistant, a sales clerk for Sears Roebuck, and early in life as a floral designer and arranger. This gave her a life-long love and knowledge of flowers and plants that she appreciated throughout her days. She loved singing in choral groups beginning with a church junior choir at age 10, the Chaminade Chorus in Appleton, various church congregation choirs, to even during the last days of her life singing with the Oakwood Village East chapel choir.
When not busy with things of the church, sewing and creating things with needle and thread provided her with relaxation. Also, one of life’s great pleasures for her was reading historical novels set in England. The many trips she and Wil made to England, exploring cathedrals, parish churches and villages with their long time English friends, was a highlight of many of her summers. Camping trips with her family, birdwatching, and later in life attending Elderhostel educational weeks were some of life’s gifts that she enjoyed. Behind her often quiet demeanor there was a spark of heaven, perhaps not easily recognized because her life was played out in the most ordinary of settings, her home, her family, as a spouse and in the church. With understanding she served as care-giver to her two sisters in the later days of their lives. For more than four years she bravely struggled with cancer.
Allegra is survived by her husband; two sons, Steve (Laura) Bloy and Jonathan Bloy of Madison; two daughters, Barbara Bloy (and long-time friend, Dennis Anderson) of Minneapolis, Minn.; and Christine (Glenn) Davis of Lebanon, Indiana; two grandchildren, Michael (Kirstin) and Sarah Bloy; one great-grandson, Adam; three sisters-in-law: Audrey (Gerald) Elsner of Green Bay; Arlene Krueger of Appleton; and Carol Reitz of Wausau; and by nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Evelyn and Elfrieda; and two brothers, Milburn and Herbert, Jr.
Photo Notes
The first picture is one of my favorites of Mom. It was taken when she was in her thirties, close to the year I was born. I like to think that image of her was burned into my mind when I was an infant, and that’s why I like it so much.
The beautifully composed photo of my parents was taken by my sister Chris last summer.