Allegra Jean (Fink) Gleeson

Passed away on April 11, 2021 at the age of 92 surrounded by her loving family. Allegra will be dearly missed by her two children Eileen (Jim Fischer) and Brien (Michelle); grandchildren Amber, Andrew, Madeleine (William Calawerts) and Connor; as well as her sister, Sharon Kuhn. She is also survived by her Uncle, Robert Zeigler; sister-in-law, Margaret Fink; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by both of her parents, Roy and Margaret Fink; brother, Barry Fink; brother-in-law, Ronald Kuhn; nephew, Eric Fink as well as her ex-husband J. Clark Gleeson.

Allegra was born in 1928 in York, PA to Roy and Margaret (née Zeigler) Fink.  She and her two siblings (Barry and Sharon) had a nearly idyllic childhood surrounded by her beloved grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins.  She attended William Penn Senior High School and after graduation became a dental assistant, but her free time was spent going dancing, especially when the big bands came to town.

In 1951 she married J. Clark Gleeson, Jr. and they eventually had a daughter (Eileen) and a son (Brien) who were her pride and joy.  The couple lived all over the country, ending up in Chicago where the marriage ended after 20 years.  At this point Allegra became a single mother working hard to raise her 2 kids and making a career for herself in various support positions mostly in the health care industry.  In 1975 she moved back to York to care for her mother and immediately got a position with the Women’s Healthcare Group that turned out to be her dream job.  She found the work so meaningful and satisfying that she stayed for 25 years.

After her retirement, she devoted her time to Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church (her lifelong faith community) and the Salvation Army, where she organized numerous activities and fundraising events and served several terms as the president of the Women’s Auxiliary.

Throughout her life, Allegra’s passion was collecting and refinishing antiques and she took enormous pride in creating a home where all of her treasures came together in a warm and beautiful space.  In 2014, when she moved to Wisconsin to be nearer her family, she was able to create a new home for her antiques in a senior apartment complex.  Once again she took an active role in the community, starting a book club, helping with rummage sales, making soup for their monthly community meals and organizing several concerts for her neighbors.

This past year the pandemic and her declining health led her to move in with her daughter where she created one last special space, packing her bedroom (or as she liked to call it, her antique gift shop) with her cherished belongings.  It was here where she passed quietly in her sleep surrounded by her loving family.

A Funeral Service for Allegra will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army or to local charities that support vulnerable and under served communities.

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