With great sadness the family announces the passing of Christena Allen on Thursday May 14, 2026, at the age of 91.   

She was predeceased by her husband Emerson and by her parents Robert and Christina (MacNeil) MacLean as well as by eleven sisters and brothers.  She was born in Florence and lived all of her adult life in North Sydney.

Christena is survived by her six children: Fraser (Kathleen), Sandra (John), Shawn (Michelle), Lloyd (Cindy), Cheryl and Lorne.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Michael (Tammy), Christena, Nicholas, Logan, and Oliver, step grandchildren Allie, Kyle, Dale and Amy, great-grandchildren Connor and Claire and step great-grandchild William.  She is also survived by her sister Sylvia Dolomont and many nieces and nephews.

Mom was a busy worker and doer all her life. On top of raising six children, she worked at the family business, the Clansman Motel, for decades doing everything from cleaning rooms to hiring and scheduling staff. Her friendly “down-home” personality was imprinted on the Clansman and survives there to this day.

Somehow, she also always found time to knit and give away thousands of pairs of mittens and socks and to bake thousands of pies and to remember every birthday in her large extended family. (Hallmark is about to notice an unexplained loss of business!)

The kettle was always on. Tea, pie and conversation were always called for. Many visitors stayed for hours of conversation, and many left with a pie to take home. Extra invited guests at the supper table were common. Large and small family gatherings at the house were frequent and always lively.

She was always looking forward to the next visit, the next phone call or the next trip. In recent years she enjoyed trips to Arizona, Florida and Aruba.

Until recent years she made daily rounds to the post office, the bank, Sobeys and the motel. This took several hours because there was always a conversation to be had at each stop.

The family is deeply grateful to everyone who made her last year as comfortable as possible.

Visitation for Christena will be held from 7-9 pm Wednesday, May 20, at the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant Street, North Sydney.  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, May 21, in the Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Stephen Mills Officiating with burial to follow at Lakeside Cemetery, North Sydney. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice. Online condolences can be left for the family on the tribute wall of the obituary page at www.wjdooley.com.