Deborah N. Perruzzi, 84, wife of the late Richard Perruzzi of Gloucester passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on Friday, January 11, 2019 at Addison Gilbert Hospital. She was born in Lynn, MA on September 29, 1934, daughter of the late George W. Nute and Reitha (Whitehead) Nute. Debbie was a graduate of Lynn English High School.
After graduating she worked in Boston in the banking field then at Salem hospital in administration, after moving from Peabody to Gloucester in 1972 she helped found PMS with her husband and was the office manager until her retirement. She loved telling stories of her childhood growing up in Lynn during the depression; her youth spent at summer camp and her teenage years as a camp counselor. She was an accomplished swimmer and diver having excelled at the sport and was on track to go to the Olympic Games until a diving injury ended her hopes.
She delighted in reliving her days as a teenager working at Liggets drugstore where she met the love of her life, Dick. They married on March 24, 1956 and were inseparable until his passing in July 2018, which broke her heart. She enjoyed traveling to her favorite gambling spot, Mohegan Sun with her husband and daughter and Saturday morning breakfasts with her family at Lobsta Land and Lees as well as Friday lunch at the Pilot House.
She cherished family vacations to Disney world and weekend trips to Maine to visit cousins Bob and Barbara Perruzzi. Blessed with the gift of gab she would talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime about anything. Dick often joke she could talk the white off rice!
She loved talking politics and would strike up a debate or discussion with anyone -prompting her family to lightheartedly invoke the “no politics rule” she was adamant about voting every election and insisted on going as early as possible to the polls. She took great joy in her husband’s passion for exotic cars and particularly liked being driven in his Bentley likening herself to Ms. Daisy. Affectionately dubbed “Mema” by her grandson Sam it was a moniker that would stick and soon she was everyone’s Mema.
She was enormously proud of her grandsons who she affectionately referred to as “my boys” and took great pleasure in watching them play football, basketball and baseball. She was an accomplished woman of many talents. Everyone’s life was touched and brightened by Mema, her compassion, kindness, generosity, sense of humor and zest for life will be greatly missed by her loving family and many friends.
Deborah is survived by, her daughter, Cheryl Favaloro and her husband Sam (her favorite son-in-law) of Gloucester; sons, Scott Perruzzi and his wife Debra and Dayne Perruzzi all of Gloucester; 4 grandchildren, Sam Favaloro, Tyler Favaloro, Andrew (Aj) Perruzzi and Marae Perruzzi; great-granddaughter, Arielle Richardson ; step-granddaughters, Brianna and Nicole Gerrior; step grandson Chase Lakeman. Her brother in law, Ken Perruzzi and his wife Shirley of South Carolina, and nephew Roy Perruzzi of Connecticut, “second daughter” Robin Briand, grand puppies, Sydney, Molly, Lola, Penny, Toby and Georgie, as well as many nieces, nephew, cousins and friends. Pre-deceased by her parents, and mother and father-in-law, Carmen and Esther Perruzzi , brother David W. Nute, special niece Dale Perruzzi, nephew Ronnie Nute, uncle Charles Nute and wife Gertrude, aunt Louise Parkhurst and uncle John Whitehead and wife Louise, as well as step-grandson, Stephen Gerrior, USMC.
In keeping with her wishes, there will be no funeral services. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 24th at Cruiseport Gloucester at 12:00 pm. – 3:00 pm.
Friends and family are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her name to the Cape Ann Animal Aid Association, 4 Paws Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930 or the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Arrangements are by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.
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