Miriam "Mimi" Anne Allen Black

Miriam “Mimi” Anne Allen Black, of Los Angeles, CA, and formerly of Winchester, MA, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 24, 2026, at age 83. Mimi was born on January 4, 1943 in Cambridge, MA to Carl Frederick Allen and Miriam Purcell Allen. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who cherished her family above all else.

Mimi, who had two younger brothers, was a tomboy when she was a kid. At Arlington High School, she enjoyed being a drum majorette. She graduated from Simmons College with a degree in psychology. After several years as a fourth grade teacher at Brackett School in Arlington, Mimi found her true calling as a mom to her four daughters (Alethea, Melissa, Ashley, and Paige), by her former husband Fischer Black. Mimi always said that her deepest wish in life was to be a mother, and she referred to her daughters as her “pearls of girls.” The joy that her family brought her only deepened when she later became a grandmother; she was quick to drop everything and hop on a plane for a birth or a birthday party or any event related to her grandchildren. 

She continued the tradition started by her parents of vacationing on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, which was her favorite place. She loved looking out on “her mountains” at the lake, where she would also kayak, tend her garden, listen to the loons, and walk around the house singing. She also adored her Siamese cat companions, travel, and long talks with friends—or strangers. Curious and interested in others, Mimi could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere. She was fierce, generous, honest, and outspoken; if you didn’t want an honest opinion, you wouldn’t ask Mimi. She loved her Catholic faith and her faith family at St. Eulalia’s; Mimi used to say: “God is love.” 

Mimi is survived by her daughters Alethea Black, Melissa Black, Ashley Black, and Paige Black; her grandchildren Katrina Palecek, Caroline Palecek, Sierra Palecek, Annika Palecek, Grant Coelen, William Coelen, Finnian Coelen, River Coelen, Kieran Oh, and Kaia Oh; and her brothers Carl Frederick Allen, Jr. and Richard John (Ted) Allen. 

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 28, at 12 p.m. at St. Eulalia Parish in Winchester, MA, followed by a burial service at Wildwood Cemetery. A funeral luncheon will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Woburn Country Club. Mimi was a friend to all and all are welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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