Janet C. Perkins

WILBRAHAM - Janet C. (Keleher) Perkins, 78, of Springfield and Cape Cod, died Thursday evening April 26, 2007 in Life Care Center, Wilbraham.

Janet was born in Lowell, Mass., on Sept. 16, 1928 and was a daughter of the late John L. and Anna (Shipsey) Keleher. She has resided in Springfield for the past 67 years. Janet graduated from Cathedral High School in 1946. She was a communicant of St. Catherine of Siena Church and a member of the church choir. Janet was an executive secretary for eight years at Chain Belt Company. She also worked in the office at Sears and Roebuck for five years and as a teacher's aide for 13 years for the Springfield School Department at the Indian Orchard Elementary School.

But her most important job was being a full-time mother to her five children. Janet was always very proud of her Irish heritage and especially enjoyed St. Patrick's Day every year. Janet loved to travel and going to Ireland with her daughter Maureen in 1996 and with her husband Gordon in 1998. She also loved to be at Cape Cod in the summer and in Florida or Corpus Christi, Texas in the winter.

Besides her parents, Janet was predeceased by her four brothers, Raymond, Robert, Paul, and John Keleher; and her sister, Mary Uhl. Janet is survived by her loving husband of 54 years Gordon G. Perkins celebrating their golden anniversary in 2003; her loving children, Michael G. Perkins and his wife Denise of Ludlow, Gregory P. Perkins and his wife Alice of Mashpee, and David B. Perkins and his wife Kathryn of Merrimack, N.H.; Maureen T. McKinnon and her husband Larry of East Longmeadow and Caroline M. Braley and her husband Daniel of Bourne; her loving grandchildren, Patrick, Stacie, Sarah, Anna, Thomas, Caroline, Julia, and great granddaughter, Isobel; along with several loving nieces and nephews.

Janet's funeral will be Monday morning April 30, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. at Sampson's Chapel of the Acres Funeral Home, 21 Tinkham Road, Springfield, followed by a liturgy of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1023 Parker St., Springfield. Burial with rites of committal to follow at 2:30 p.m. in Bourne National Cemetery, Bourne. Visiting hours at the funeral home are on Sunday, April 29, 2007 from 2 to 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Association, Mass. Chapter, 720 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02134.