Belle Frances Perrone

Belle Frances (Buccigross) Perrone of Longmeadow passed away on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Belle was born in South Boston on August 23, 1931, to the late Michael and Belle (Parrell) Buccigross. She was one of 2 girls and 2 boys and was very much a part of the Italian and Irish 'Southie' community.

'Sis' was a graduate of Nazareth High School, Class of 1948 and a graduate of Boston College School of Nursing in 1955. The 'rebel' in her family, she joined American Airlines as a stewardess and leveraged her benefits to enjoy a tour of Europe, including Italy and Portugal, with four of her best friends before settling down. Belle was the Head Pediatric Nurse at the Boston Children's Hospital where she met a handsome, young resident, Vincent Perrone. They married in 1960 and had 6 children.

While she raised her children in the Forest Park section of Springfield, Belle took them all on monthly visits 'back home' to Boston where she had so many cherished friends and family members. She absolutely adored Cape Cod and took great delight in renting a cottage each summer for years, joining with her siblings and their families. She would pile all 6 kids into a big Buick station wagon for Day Trips to expose them to historical sites like Lexington & Concord and Salem, MA as well as fun places like the NY Herkimer Diamond Mine and Santa's Land in VT. Those trips inevitably included multiple coolers full of food, including chicken salad sandwiches and her famous 'Whoopie Pies' and Lemon Squares. She made most of those trips with her sister Mary and her 3 kids: Maria, Theresa and David. Belle also made countless trips to Mountain Park in Holyoke with her kids and their friends in the days of '$10 a carload'!

Belle had an amazing 'green thumb' as evidenced by both a constant profusion of houseplants and gorgeous outdoor flowers. She also made beautiful fresh flower arrangements and was a skilled cake decorator! Belle worked as a private duty nurse while raising her children. She subsequently taught nursing at Putnam High School in Springfield with her best friend Susie Sumner and also worked as a school nurse in the Holyoke School system. She was a devoted Bereavement volunteer for LifeChoice Donor Services in honor of her son, Michael, and an active member of the LifeChoice community, participating in numerous events and trips. She was also a faithful communicant of St. Mary's in Longmeadow and then Sacred Heart Church in Springfield.

Belle is survived by her brother, James Buccigross from Plymouth, MA, five daughters: Maria Perrone of Ellington, CT, Jennifer Gaffney of East Longmeadow, Carlotta Perrone of Wilbraham, Joanne "Josie" White and her husband Daniel of Longmeadow, Christina Perrone of Evergreen, CO, and her daughter-in-law, Marina Perrone. She also leaves seven adored grandchildren: Joseph and his wife Lea, Anthony and his fiancé Hannah, Vincent and his wife Abby, Stephanie and her husband Dan, Christina and her husband Nicholas, Monica and Nicholas; and five great grandchildren: Rose, Sam, Vincent, Giana, and Malia as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at 11am at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield. Burial at St. Thomas Cemetery in West Springfield will follow.