Obituary for Joan Arlene Perry
With great sorrow we announce that our devoted and loving Mother and Nana, Joan Arlene Perry, went home to be with her Lord rejoining her loved ones on January 18, 2021 at the age of 86. She will be missed dearly but not forgotten.
Joan was born on April 24, 1934 in Providence, Rhode Island to Willard and Elsie Williams. She is survived by her sister Kathy DiCicco in New Jersey and preceded in death by her brother William Williams.
Joan moved south from Rhode Island to Lillian, Alabama in 1968, and then to Pensacola, Florida in 1994. Her mastery and love of cooking continued, but she was devoted to, and treasured most, her family.
Joan was known for a unique trait, a glimmer that swayed and brightened the life of everyone around her, earning her the nickname “Sparkles”. She was a light that shined on everything and everyone. She could engage anyone in conversation and no one she met could call her a stranger, and her whit could arouse a laugh in the most clinical of companions.
Joan’s favorite words were “Why not”? She loved and lived life to the fullest. Diverse in her interest and talents. She was as fast in a race car as she was graceful in the ice rink, and while she most certainly knew how to fly, landing seemed to escape her. When asked which runway she planned to land on – her classic response- “All of them”. She was a strong ocean swimmer, avid boater, extraordinary fisher, well-versed camper, lover of music, agile dancer, and habitual reader, but her most appreciated skill and passion was cooking.
Oh my, could she cook! She was self-taught, but her delicacies made you believe she had sampled the knowledge of the world’s finest chefs. Her life and career were marked by a universal love of her cooking by customers and family alike. Across many restaurants and even a retirement home, she infused her personality and passion into delicious cuisine. Joan even dipped her toes in fine dining, cooking for an elite country club as head chef and caterer. No matter the menu or number of attendees, not once, did Joan Perry need to reference a recipe book. She was a natural, some may even suggest that the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise” was written about a meal she served.
In her last 3 years, while her body became frail, the sparkle for which she was nicknamed never dulled and continued to woo staff and residents alike at her retirement home, Haven of Our Lady of Peace. During her last hospital stay, many of the nurses and doctors that previously cared for her sought her out and visited despite assigned to various floors and exhausted as they were struggling to provide care during the pandemic. They just had to come see “Sparkles”. Joan’s faith in God always guided her, and she continued to show love to all she met, just like Christ commanded. In pain and poor health, she never wavered, an example to us all.
Joan Perry was a giant among women. Strong, but tender. Disciplined, but full of grace. Driven for perfection but tempered with understanding and compassion.
“Sparkles” made everyone happy! Always a smile on her face and a joke on her lips and love and kindness in her heart. Her indomitable spirit encouraged her family and friends to persist in the face of many struggles. God gave us one of Heaven’s best, and now she has gone home. We were blessed to know this angel who spiced up this world and made it a better place.
Mother and Nana were her most cherished titles. Her proudest achievement was her family. She embraced every moment with them. She married Russell Norman “Bob” Perry on Jan 5, 1952 and was blessed with 6 children. You could not ask for a more devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Her beautiful family grew to 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Of her children she is survived by Debra Crossley, Denise Spoor, Brad Perry, and Kathy Brockett. Joan was preceded in death by two children, Dawn Morgan, and Russell Perry, as well as her husband Bob.
The surviving grandchildren are John Crossley, Mikey Crossley, Heather Danielle Flowers-Forhan, Amber Green, Ashley Marden, Joshua Morgan, Russell Perry, Jr., Annie Perry, Jessica Perry Nichols, Brad Perry, Jr., Jennifer Cloutier, Carolyn Perry, Brayden Perry, Charles Brockett and Seth Brockett. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, David Flowers, and Deana Crossley.
A Memorial Service for Joan will be held on February 7, 2021 at Trahan Family Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. and the Service to follow at 12 p.m. We will promptly leave the Funeral Home at 1 p.m. to Pensacola Memorial Gardens located at 7433 Pine Forest Rd, Pensacola, FL 32526 for a graveside service at 2 p.m.
Joan was born on April 24, 1934 in Providence, Rhode Island to Willard and Elsie Williams. She is survived by her sister Kathy DiCicco in New Jersey and preceded in death by her brother William Williams.
Joan moved south from Rhode Island to Lillian, Alabama in 1968, and then to Pensacola, Florida in 1994. Her mastery and love of cooking continued, but she was devoted to, and treasured most, her family.
Joan was known for a unique trait, a glimmer that swayed and brightened the life of everyone around her, earning her the nickname “Sparkles”. She was a light that shined on everything and everyone. She could engage anyone in conversation and no one she met could call her a stranger, and her whit could arouse a laugh in the most clinical of companions.
Joan’s favorite words were “Why not”? She loved and lived life to the fullest. Diverse in her interest and talents. She was as fast in a race car as she was graceful in the ice rink, and while she most certainly knew how to fly, landing seemed to escape her. When asked which runway she planned to land on – her classic response- “All of them”. She was a strong ocean swimmer, avid boater, extraordinary fisher, well-versed camper, lover of music, agile dancer, and habitual reader, but her most appreciated skill and passion was cooking.
Oh my, could she cook! She was self-taught, but her delicacies made you believe she had sampled the knowledge of the world’s finest chefs. Her life and career were marked by a universal love of her cooking by customers and family alike. Across many restaurants and even a retirement home, she infused her personality and passion into delicious cuisine. Joan even dipped her toes in fine dining, cooking for an elite country club as head chef and caterer. No matter the menu or number of attendees, not once, did Joan Perry need to reference a recipe book. She was a natural, some may even suggest that the song “Cheeseburger in Paradise” was written about a meal she served.
In her last 3 years, while her body became frail, the sparkle for which she was nicknamed never dulled and continued to woo staff and residents alike at her retirement home, Haven of Our Lady of Peace. During her last hospital stay, many of the nurses and doctors that previously cared for her sought her out and visited despite assigned to various floors and exhausted as they were struggling to provide care during the pandemic. They just had to come see “Sparkles”. Joan’s faith in God always guided her, and she continued to show love to all she met, just like Christ commanded. In pain and poor health, she never wavered, an example to us all.
Joan Perry was a giant among women. Strong, but tender. Disciplined, but full of grace. Driven for perfection but tempered with understanding and compassion.
“Sparkles” made everyone happy! Always a smile on her face and a joke on her lips and love and kindness in her heart. Her indomitable spirit encouraged her family and friends to persist in the face of many struggles. God gave us one of Heaven’s best, and now she has gone home. We were blessed to know this angel who spiced up this world and made it a better place.
Mother and Nana were her most cherished titles. Her proudest achievement was her family. She embraced every moment with them. She married Russell Norman “Bob” Perry on Jan 5, 1952 and was blessed with 6 children. You could not ask for a more devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Her beautiful family grew to 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.
Of her children she is survived by Debra Crossley, Denise Spoor, Brad Perry, and Kathy Brockett. Joan was preceded in death by two children, Dawn Morgan, and Russell Perry, as well as her husband Bob.
The surviving grandchildren are John Crossley, Mikey Crossley, Heather Danielle Flowers-Forhan, Amber Green, Ashley Marden, Joshua Morgan, Russell Perry, Jr., Annie Perry, Jessica Perry Nichols, Brad Perry, Jr., Jennifer Cloutier, Carolyn Perry, Brayden Perry, Charles Brockett and Seth Brockett. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren, David Flowers, and Deana Crossley.
A Memorial Service for Joan will be held on February 7, 2021 at Trahan Family Funeral Home. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. and the Service to follow at 12 p.m. We will promptly leave the Funeral Home at 1 p.m. to Pensacola Memorial Gardens located at 7433 Pine Forest Rd, Pensacola, FL 32526 for a graveside service at 2 p.m.