16.11.2008
Sandy Allen
June 18th 1955 - August 13th 2008
who stood at
7'7 1/4" (232cm) at her tallest.
We will never forget you, Sandy!
It was with deep sadness that I had to report the death of Sandy Allen on August 13th 2008.
My 6'7" friend Erika and I were supposed to meet up with Sandy back in 2007 but it didn't materialise because the people from the nursing home didn't call us back in time. That was a big shame.
Even though I never met Sandy in person I somehow felt I knew her. From what I can gather she was a friend you could always count on. Inspite of her own problems (and they were immense) she was always ready and willing to give to others. I can't think of a better way to commemorate Sandy than to fill this webpage with life and we need to make sure Sandy gets her headstone!
Fundraiser for a headstone for Sandy Allen's grave
The Shelbyville gravesite of Sandy Allen is marked only by a few flowers. But friends hope a fundraiser will help cover the costs of a gravestone for Allen, who at 7 feet, 7 1/4 inches was recognized as the world's tallest woman until her death in August. Family friends plan a fundraiser for Saturday, featuring softball and cornhole tournaments. Allen's friends also want to raise money for a proposed statue of Allen. But that idea has not been approved by the city of Shelbyville. Friends remember Allen as a kind and generous woman who developed a sense of humor about her height.
A group of friends is currently heading up a fundraiser for a headstone for Sandy Allen's grave. Unfortunately, there's no way to donate to Sandy Allen's headstone fund online.
Update (October 28th 2008)
The funeral home said they can accept credit card donations but it has to be by phone, which I know could be a problem for those outside the USA. But here's the number anyway: 317-398-6697.
Or, you can send a personal check, money order (or international money order if you're out of the country) to:
Murphy-Parks Funeral Home,
703 S. Harrison St.,
Shelbyville,
IN 46176,
USA.
Please make checks out to the "Sandy Allen Monument Fund". Thanks.
Sandy's friend Rita Rose has finally finished her book about Sandy. Rita writes:
Dear friends,
the website for "World's
Tallest Woman: The Giantess of Shelbyville High" is complete and waiting for
some hits.
There's a list of signings under "appearances" in case you'd rather come to one of those. Or, just browse for fun. There are some neat photos of Sandy and other information on her.
Rita Rose
Joerg writes:
I am going to use this website to celebrate Sandy's life and honour her legacy. Even though I never met Sandy in person (see above) she was one of the first "super tall" women I noticed. There was a picture of Sandy and some little kids in a German newspaper about 25 years ago and I was wondering what life as a extremely tall person might be like. As you can imagine I never found out. I managed to find out what really tall women are like though - and because I did I can only say I am blessed.
Everything I heard about Sandy was positive. She didn't get so tall because she chose to be tall but because she had a tumour in her brain that caused her to grow to 7'7 1/4". I've stated it elsewhere but I'd love to reiterate: I wish Sandy hadn't had that tumour and had instead grown to a sustainable height. Sadly her growth couldn't be stopped in time but that was what made Sandy become who she was.
She lead a very difficult life which had more lows (healthwise) than highs but she always managed to make the best of it and she was always ready to give.
Thank you for being such an inspirational person, Sandy. We will never forget you!
Sandy's friend Rita Rose has kindly given me the permission to use the Eulogy she gave. Thank you very much, Rita!
Wednesday, August 13th 2008
What happened: Sandy's friend Rita Rose sent me the following email earlier today (August 13th 2008): "It is with a heavy heart that I let you know that my friend of 30 years, Sandy Allen, passed away early today in a nursing home in Shelbyville, IN. She was 53 and had been ill for several months."
Update:
Funeral services will be at Town and Country Christian Church, 2133 S. Tucker Road, Shelbyville. Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, and 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 18, with services at 10 a.m. Murphy-Parks Funeral Services in Shelbyville is handling arrangements.
Friday, August 15th 2008
Update:
Monday's funeral procession for the late Sandy Allen, the world's tallest woman at the time of her death Wednesday, will pause on the west side of Public Square to transfer the casket to a horse-drawn carriage.
Allen had requested the carriage processional in the years prior to her death, according to Greg Parks of Murphy-Parks Funeral Service.
Following the 10 a.m. funeral services at the Town & Country Church, 2133 S. Tucker Road, burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.
The procession route will leave the church and follow State Road 44 east and continue northeast on Miller Avenue to Miller Street, continuing north to Washington Street, then east to Public Square. Traffic will be stopped on all sides of Public Square. Allen's casket will be transferred to the carriage, which will proceed east on Washington Street, north on Vine Street and east on Morris Avenue to Forest Hill Cemetery.
Allen's family will follow Allen in a second horse-drawn carriage.
Source: http://www.shelbynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=93&ArticleID=57020&TM=61739.02
Monday, August 18th 2008
Sandy Allen, the 7-foot-7 woman recognized as the world’s tallest female, was remembered by mourners at her funeral today for her kindness and generosity.
More than 200 people attended the service for Allen at Town & Country Church. More people lined the streets of her central Indiana hometown as the funeral procession went to the downtown circle. Her Indiana-made casket then was placed on a horse-drawn carriage to travel about a mile to Forest Hill Cemetery for burial.
Read more here and here
Memorial contributions can be made to the Sandy Allen Scholarship Fund at the Blue River Community Foundation, 54 W. Broadway, Suite 1, Shelbyville, IN 46176.
Read more about Sandy on the web...
