Allan Chambers

“Darn-near perfect” husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, artist, teacher and friend Allan Chambers passed away on Aug 7, 2023 at the age of 89, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on October 10, 1933 to the late Harold F and H. Evelyn Chambers. As the sixth of seven children, he developed a sharp wit and open-hearted ease that he carried with him until the end. As a child growing up during the Great Depression, Allan understood that the  seemingly insignificant things in this world have value as evidenced by a cellar full of things that are “still good” and “can be used for something else”.

Allan grew up in a multigenerational home in Allston but spent most of his summers in a cottage on Lake Winthrop in Holliston. He loved being there so much that he purchased land across the street from his parents in hopes of building his own cottage someday.

As a young man, Allan met his first love, Lorraine Bevis, who stood not only by his side but head and shoulders taller than him. They were married in April of 1956. It was not long before their family grew and the couple welcomed their son Richard who sadly passed away shortly after his first birthday. Allan and Lorraine welcomed and raised four more children and enjoyed just shy of 50 years of marriage that resulted in many stories still affectionately told around family dinner tables.

After retiring from Proctor and Gamble Allan reignited his passion for art. Alongside his brother-in-law Bill, brother Don, and his sons, he constructed a studio in his backyard. It was there where he shared his talents with pencils and watercolors with dozens of students who came to him for weekly lessons. He lived to be of service to others and often traveled to the homes of his loved ones “just to get them started” on a project and would likely end up finishing it with them after getting wholly invested himself – as long as the Bruins were not playing.

A devoted member of St. Jerome’s Church, Allan could often be found lending his rich bass voice to the choir, performing in yearly parish shows or calling bingo numbers to a hall full of vying parishioners. After Lorraine’s passing in 2006, it was at choir practice where he found happiness again in Susan Smith whom he married in 2012. Together, they shared many happy years painting and traveling.

His grandchildren knew him to be both cheeky and tender; his great grandchildren as a lively playmate. Allan was a consummate gentleman who worked hard to leave the world more beautiful than he found it.

In addition to his wife Susan, Allan will be greatly missed and never forgotten by his son Dana Chambers and his wife Paula of Abington, his daughter Ellen Coyne and her husband James of Hooksett, NH, his son Scott Chambers and his wife Nancy of North Weymouth and his daughter Donna Connolly and her husband Joseph of East Bridgewater, his two step daughters, Angela Lewis and her husband Horace of Lynn and Barbara Smith and her partner Gary of Hanson as well as his younger brother Edmund from Florham Park, NJ.  He was the beloved brother of the late Harold J., Donald F., Babara Harrison, R. Bruce, and Karl D. all who have passed on before him. Allan was the proud grandfather of 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, loving  uncle to many nieces and nephews and friend to a community of loved ones who never missed a chance to sit by his side, watch the river, and enjoy a highball on the porch.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to greet the family during visiting hours on Tuesday, August 15th from 4:00 to 7:30 PM  at the McDonald Keohane Funeral Home – 40 Sea St, North Weymouth, MA 02191. On Wednesday, August 16th, a celebration of life service will be held at 11:30 AM followed by a funeral mass at noon at St. Jerome’s church, 632 Bridge St, North Weymouth, MA 02191. Cremation and a private family burial to follow at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Autistic Self Advocacy Network at htpps://autisticadvocacy.org/. or mail checks to : Autistic Self Advocacy Network, PO Box 66122, Washington DC 20035.