WESTERN HILLS – Anna "Honey" Perry left a legacy of love to all who knew her.
"Her last simple request was to pray the Memorare, take care of each other and love each other. She said that was the most important thing," said her daughter Francine Arey of Western Hills. "She was a beautiful, amazing woman."
Mrs. Perry died May 28 of heart complications at Hospice of Cincinnati in Western Hills. She was 90.
Born October 3, 1914, in Kentucky, Mrs. Perry was orphaned at the age of 4 when both parents died within months of each other.
Mrs. Perry was separated from her three siblings and sent to live in an orphanage. She lived there until around the age of 14 when she was adopted by George and Lorena Steele.
On Nov. 24, 1934, Mrs. Perry married Alfred Leonard Perry, whom she met on a roller coaster. She was in the front car by herself and Mr. Perry waited until the last minute to jump in and ride with her. They were married 55 years.
Mr. Perry and an infant son preceded her in death.
Mrs. Perry’s family was her life. She raised 14 children and took care of everyone around her.
"She spent her entire life taking care of others, her husband, children, extended family, and friends that felt like a part of their family. She opened her heart to everyone," said Francine. "She spent her life working to take care of her family."
Devout Catholics, Mr. and Mrs. Perry said the rosary every night. Mrs. Perry made rosaries, too. She made one for every member of the family as well as for church missions.
She was a member of the Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Westwood.
Mrs. Perry loved butterflies, and on the day of her burial each of her 14 children released one monarch butterfly in memory of their mother.
"They all flew away and came back to the flowers on the casket," said Francine. "My butterfly wouldn’t fly away; it stayed and was still there when we left the cemetery. She left us all feeling like we were the only child. She made each one of us feel special. Everything I know about love, I learned from her." [Source]
4 comments
Glory of a Large Family v. the Culture of Death
The Curt Jester just posted an obit of a great Catholic mother who recently died at age 90. She had 14 kids, and this is what one of them said, “She left us all feeling like we were the only child. She made each one of us feel special. Everything I k…
A life very well lived indeed.
What a stunningly lovely soul. I’m going to say the Memorare for her tonight.
Ok – you have me tearing up here. I think it’s significant that this wonderful person didn’t whine about how tough she had it as a child – orphaned and all – but instead gave her whole life to helping others. I want to meet her kids – heck, I’d like to BE 1 of her kids.