Leona Frances Perry

Twelve-and-a-half years after her Bill left to smooth the way, Leona Perry joined him and her much missed mother and dad, sister and brother, early on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011. It is a great comfort to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know they are together again. "Lee" was the beloved wife of the late Lt. Col. William S. Perry, U.S. Air Force (retired), daughter of the late Frank and Sara Josephine (Austin) Callahan, and sister of the late Shirley Donlevy and James Callahan. She leaves her five loving children: Frank S. Perry and his wife, Carole; their daughters Lisa Sabroff and husband, Mark, and Jodi Erdmann and her husband, Ryan, all of Madison, Wis.; Margaret (Peggy) Bajnoci and her husband, Dick, of Attleboro, with whom she made her home for eight years, and their sons Shane Bajnoci and his wife, Nicole, of Pelham, and Darin Bajnoci of Cummington; Louise Johnson and her husband Bob, of Attleboro, and their daughters Jennifer Erickson and her husband, Eric, of Marblehead, and Tiffany O'Connor and her husband, John, of North Attleboro; Sandra Perry and her daughter, Erin Holt, and her husband, Tate, of Raleigh, N.C.; Senior Master Sgt. William S. Perry Jr. U.S. Air Force/AKANG (retired) and his wife, Sherrie, of North Pole, Alaska, and their children, Heather Osborne and her husband, Mitch, of Spokane, Wash., Jason Perry and his wife, Leah, of Seattle, Sean Perry, Michael Perry, Maura Perry, and Justin Perry, all of North Pole. Leona also leaves 13 great-grandchildren: Amanda and Tyler Sabroff; Hailey and Hannah Erdmann; Sydney, Madeline, and Rory O'Connor; Axel Erickson; Emily and Liam Holt; Emma and Caden Osborne, and Issac Perry. She also leaves her dear sister-in-law, Eileen Perry and many nieces and nephews. Lee and Bill began their life together in Attleboro in 1940 on a blind date. Bill played AAA baseball and Lee worked as a jewelry artist at a family business, Audette Plating. After a few years, during early World War II, Bill was in bombardier training in Childress, Texas, and proposed by sending her a train ticket and a hope chest. She traveled alone on a troop train to Texas and they were married in Childress at the First Presbyterian Church following a regular Sunday service on June 6, 1943. Thus began the romantic and nomadic life of a military wife. They traveled with their growing family for 24 years, making a new home in Texas, Oklahoma, Washington, Massachusetts, Germany, Delaware, Maine, Wisconsin, and Italy, before finally settling in North Carolina on a three-acre "Gentleman's Farm." She collected many treasures from every place they called home. Leona was well known in our family for her beautiful afghans, many grace the homes of her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She loved to read romance novels which mirrored her life, and was a wonderful cook, her pies and chocolate chip cookies among family favorites. Leona's family will gather together at the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home on Peck Street in Attleboro on Friday, Sept. 16, for private family services. Her children wish to express how grateful they are to Bob Belanger, Carolyn and all the wonderful staff at the Victorian Mansion in South Attleboro where Leona made her home for two-and-a-half years. How do we thank the special angels, Danielle, Brenda, Patsy, and Nancy who cared for our "Mummy" with such love and devotion from her first day at the Mansion. On that day she met Carol who became a special and dear friend. Leona was a beautiful and proud woman, always elegant and bejeweled, who adored her large family. She said at her 90th birthday celebration, just a week ago, that it was the happiest day of her life spent with those she loved most in life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Leona's memory may be made to: Hospice of CVNA, 10 Emory St., Attleboro, MA 02703.