Tamara M. Tami (Kernen) Allenberg

Tamara ("Tami"), 66, passed away from ovarian cancer on Friday, August 25, 2017 at
her home in Natrona Heights. Tami was born in Alexandria, Virginia on August 3,
1951 to Clyde and Betty Kernen, the sister offered Clyde (Gwendolyn) Kernen, Robin
Garrison, Sandra (Tom) Murphy and Paula Leal. She was a lively, smiling and
beautiful child with curly red hair and bright blue eyes. Tami graduated from
Highlands High School in 1970. During that year, Tami bravely cared for her mother
during a terminal battle with cancer, and was adopted by Mary and Paul Killian to
become a sister of Lynette Killian, Dawn (Shawn) Schrecengost, Jeff (Angelic) Killian, Greg (Lauri) Killian,
Bob (Kim) Killian and Paul (Bonnie) Killian after her mothers passing. She resided
in Michigan, Ohio and California for periods afterwards.
Tami met Jack while moonlighting as a bartender at the Natrona Fraternal Order of
Eagles Club. It was love at first sight, and the two married on her birthday in 1996 to
make sure Jack would never forget an anniversary! With Jack came a great family
that loved Tami for her generosity, kindness and loving nature. Tami became the
sister-in-law to Nancy Swiklinski, Antoinette (Edward) Holben, Don (Mary)
Allenberg, Richard (Sue) Allenberg, Jeff (Cindy) Allenberg and Joni (Ken) Horciciak;
as well as the late William (Rachel) Allenberg, Lori Sadowski, Ruth Chlebina and
Dorothy (Ed) Gavalek. She enjoyed gathering with the family on Sundays, welcoming
them to the home on Thanksgiving for dessert and going to the Rivers Casino with
her "Partner in Crime" Joni after chemotherapy treatments.
Tamara was an artist who was contracted to create handpainted customized
clothing, Christmas ornaments, murals and canvas paintings that became treasured
objects in the home of her clients and other businesses. Later in life, she launched
Just For You By Tami and included wedding and portrait photography in her
services. Friends, family and clients will always have a piece of Tami in their wedding
albums and framed on their walls in the art they received from her. Her eye caught a
vision through a lens that cemented time and emotion in an image.
Family was the most important thing in Tamis life and she valued being a mother,
stepmother, wife and grandmother more than anything else she could be gifted. She
taught her children Robert (Ashley) Singer, Misty Chybrzynski and Pastor Nicholas
(Niki) Chybrzynski how to love, forgive, persevere, commit and succeed. She was a
stepmother and loved Jessica and the late Jason Allenberg very much so. She
provided her children with the lessons in life that would allow them to dream, plan,
fail, try again, and succeed in anything they chose to pursue. Without our mother, we
would not be nearly as strong, grateful or resilient. Even during bouts of sickness
through chemotherapy and surgeries to remove cancerous tissues in her body, Tami
would muster the strength to spend time with her grandchildren, Robert Luc, John
Paul, Trent, Savannah, Tyarah, Tyrone Jr. and Milleena. They will always remember
"Grami" planning extravagant Christmas holidays and Easter Egg Hunts, taking girls
trips to Disney World, and supporting them in their activities.​
Those who knew Tami know how special of woman she is and how blessed they
have been to have her in their lives. She is the kind of woman that makes you want to
do better because she believed in you that much. She loved all of her family
members and close friends, and created special bonds with her many nieces and
nephews. After diagnosis of ovarian cancer Stage IV in 2010, Tami defied diagnosis
statistics by bravely enduring biweekly treatments for months at a time. With Gods
grace, she survived for more than seven years! She embraced life and took the
opportunity to travel, spend time with her best friends and siblings, and let everyone
that she loved know exactly how important they are to this world.
Some people make a mark on their world. Tami left a mark in our hearts.
Friends will be received on Monday from 2-4, 6-8 PM in the Cicholski-Zidek Funeral Home, Inc., 1522 Carlisle St., Natrona Heights 724-224-8688. Funeral ceremonies will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 AM in the Generations House of Worship, Brackenridge. Officiating will be her son, Pastor Nicholas Chybrzynski. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Tami may be made to the Generations House of Worship, PO Box 324, Natrona Heights, Pa. 15065. To send an on line condolence please visit www.cicholski-zidekfh.com.