Penelope Perkins "Penny" Upton

1931 - 2023

Penelope "Penny" Perkins Upton

Marlborough , MA - Penelope "Penny" Perkins Upton, 91, of Marlborough, Massachusetts, died at Southborough, Massachusetts, as a consequence of pneumonia, on October 3, 2023.

She was born at Manchester, New Hampshire on November 3, 1931, and grew up there. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Perkins, and her brother, Charles F. "Cric" Perkins, preceded her in death.

Her husband John Gilbert "Gil" Upton, a lawyer in Concord, New Hampshire, preceded her in death.

They had lived in Concord and eventually also in Kennebunkport, Maine. They had a happy, loving marriage for forty-four years. They shared a love of travel, and took their children on trips to see other countries. They had five children: Stevenson (Steve), Martha, Elizabeth, Susannah, and Melinda.

Penny was unusual among the Concord women of her generation in that she, while still being a mother to young children, went to graduate school and then had a full-time career. In Concord, she began her career as a guidance counselor at Garrison School, and then worked for many years as a psychotherapist at what is now known as Riverbend Community Mental Health, Inc.

After Gil's death, Penny moved to Sarasota, Florida, and eventually had a loving relationship there with John J. "Jack" O'Sullivan. She and Jack shared interests in the activities of a variety of Sarasota's cultural and charitable organizations, and in domestic and international travel.

After Jack's death, she had a loving relationship at Sarasota with James "Jim" Chastain. Both Jack and Jim had taught for many years at the college/university level. Penny and Jim participated together in local stage productions at Sarasota. Penny wrote a number of plays, and also enjoyed writing poems.

After Jim's death, Penny moved back to her hometown, Manchester. She subsequently moved to New Horizons, an independent-and-assisted-living community in Marlborough, Massachusetts. At New Horizons, she had a close friendship with a retired architect, Allen Boemer, who brought companionship to her in her final days.

Her five children, her children's spouses Anita Erazo Upton, Peter Davis, and John Hayes, her eight grandchildren Emily, Zachary, Eliza, James, Rebecca, Samantha, Dillon, and Kiara, and Emily's husband Eli Asher, Eliza's husband Mitchell Rathbun, and Samantha's fiancé Tim Brock all were with her for loving final good-byes preceding her death.

Penny's warmth, radiance, exuberance, resilience, compassion, creativity, love of life, and sunny smile touched, charmed and inspired everyone in her life.

A celebration of her life is being planned for a not-yet-determined place and date in 2024. Anyone interested in being notified should send an email to uptonrs@gmail.com

For anyone who is interested, a donation in memory of Penny Upton to Riverbend Community Mental Health Center, PO Box 2032, Concord, HH 03302, which will be used for non-therapeutic assistance for women and children in crisis, is suggested.