Allene Marie Gundersen (Traicoff) passed suddenly at age 84 on Sunday, July 2, 2023 at Central DuPage Hospital.  Born April 1st, 1939, Allene grew up in a hard working family in Peoria, IL. She graduated from Manual High School, where she was the baton-twirling Drum Majorette and a Homecoming Queen.  After working in the administration office and attending classes at Bradley University, she left for United Airlines Flight-Attendant School, where she acquired an acute, lifelong fear of flying.  She returned to Peoria and married Lynn Gundersen on October 1, 1960 who was the love of her life for more than 63 years.  With a newborn son in tow, they moved to Wheaton, IL , and had a daughter.  As a young mother with a traveling husband and two kids in school she decided to continue her own education and obtained a Bachelors and then a Masters in Social Work from George Williams University graduating Summa Cum Laude.  Allene went on to work at Downer's Grove North High School as the school social worker where she supported and advocated for many students.

Longtime Wheaton residents, Allene has been a member of First Presbyterian Church for almost 60 years and also served the church as a Deacon.  She had a love of nature and traveling.  She brought a balance of theater and arts to her family and she and her husband were longtime patrons of the symphony, Chicago Ballet, and the Goodman Theater as well as the Wheaton College art series.

Allene was preceded in death by her husband Lynn in May of 2022, by brothers Donald Traicoff, Thomas Traicoff, sisters- in- law Roberta Traicoff  and Marcia Wilkening, and brother- in- law Alan Traicoff.  She is survived by her son Todd Gundersen (wife Sheila), her daughter Alesha Wilson (husband Eric), one granddaughter Alexandra Gundersen, and four grandsons Joshua Gundersen, Andrew Gundersen, Jacob Wilson, and Scott Wilson, as well as her sister Mary (Booma) Jass and brother Bill Traicoff.

The family will receive friends on Monday, July 10, 2023 at the First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton at 715 N. Carlton Ave. Visitation is from 9-11 with a memorial service to follow at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to Naperville Senior Center , 1504 N. Naper Blvd Suite 120, Naperville, IL 60563 (The privately-run senior activity center that cared so well for Allene), or Alzheimer's Association , 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601.