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Pearl N. Perry

Pearl Perry

MARQUETTE, MI – Pearl Norene Perry, age 93, entered eternal life Friday, April 26, 2019, at Eastwood Nursing Center, in the loving care of her family.

Born February 2, 1926, in Indian Town (Munising area) a daughter of Theodore and Mabel (Carr) Paquette, Pearl was raised in Indian Town and attended the Washington School and Mather High School. It was during World War II when Pearl, like so many other young women of her time, traveled to Milwaukee with her sister-in-law, Arvilla, and was employed in factory work for the war effort as a Rosie the Riveter. The Rosies replaced the male workforce serving in the military. During her stay in Milwaukee, Pearl often hitchhiked back to Munising to visit family and friends. On September 30, 1944, Pearl was united in marriage to William J. Perry who was then serving in the US Air Force. The couple made their first home in Munising and began raising a family. In the early 1950’s the family relocated to Marquette. Pearl balanced her life as wife, mother, and homemaker, with working at various jobs throughout the years. Some of her employments included the former Sweet Goods Shoppe, Hamburger Heaven, and then for a time doing home care for the elderly. Family was everything to Pearl and she has been described as the glue that held the family together, the center of every family celebration and gathering. In her leisure moments, she enjoyed everything having to do with her children and grandchildren. She attended all their events involving dancing, baseball, football, wrestling, and whatever else they were doing. She loved reading her Bible every day, collected angel figurines, and was a very devout Catholic. While residing in Marquette at Oakwood Village Apartments, she enjoyed the apartment coffee clutch, watching wrestling on TV with her neighbors, and always brought along some snack to share. She also enjoyed watching Olympic competition, especially gymnastics and figure skating, and regionally was a fan of the Tigers and Packers.

Pearl was a member of St. Christopher Catholic Church, former member of the Kateri Tekakwitha Circle, and belonged to the TOPS Club (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) which one year walked the Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day. She was also a proud member of the Grand Island Tribe of Chippewa Indians and was given the name, Rainbow Woman. She was one of the first tribal members to get the Elder Committee established in Marquette.

A loving mother and grandma, Pearl is survived by her children, Sandra Bellmore, Billy (Kathy) Perry, Monte (Susan) Perry Sr., Edward Perry, Becky (Bryan) Reynolds, Theodore (Phyllis) Perry, and Wendy (George) LaFave; numerous grandchildren, great, and great great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Pearl was preceded in death by her parents; husband, William J. Perry, Jr; three children, Kitty Meyers, Susan Perry, and Joseph Perry, Sr.; sons-in-law, Richard Bellmore and Mike Meyers; grandchildren, Michael Stark, Jr and Bobbi Sue Perry Roeder; and great-grandchild, Jadee Sue Bellmore Taylor; brothers and sisters and their spouses, Joseph (Arvilla) Paquette, Theodore (Joyce) Paquette, Thelma Peterson, Grace (Virgil) Kaltenbeck, Viola (Laurence) Magnusson, and Mary Rose (Bob) Johnson; her in-laws, William J. and Etta M. Perry, Sr., brother-in-law, Edward Perry, Sr; and sister-in-law, Goldie (Louis) Humphrey.

The family will receive relatives and friends at St. Christopher Catholic Church on Tuesday, April 30, beginning at 10:00 am. Native American ceremonies will be conducted during the visitation period. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 noon with Rev. Greg Heikkala, pastor, as celebrant. Interment will be made in the Holy Cross Cemetery. A reception will be held in the church fellowship hall. Pearl will be escorted by her grandsons, Jimmy Bellmore, Billy Perry, Jr, Monte Perry, Jr, Michael Meyers, Bryan Reynolds, Jr, Jonny Reynolds, Tommy Reynolds, Joe Perry, Jr, and Lucas LaFave.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the wonderful staff at Eastwood Nursing Center for the care given to Pearl.

“We will love you and miss you forever and ever our most precious angel”

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com