WORCESTER, MA-Emily Perrins Chaffee, 87, passed away on Friday July 1, 2016 in Worcester MA after a long illness. Emily was born on May 18, 1929 in New Haven CT to Harlan and Helen (Wilkinson) Perrins, the youngest of three children and the only girl. In 1944, Emily met her soulmate, William (Bill) Chaffee at a New Year’s Eve party. They dated for the next 7 years and married on September 8, 1951. After her graduation from Connecticut College with a BA in Zoology, Emily worked as a lab technician at Yale University while Bill attended medical school. They had three children and ultimately settled in Auburn NY in 1966.
Emily maintained a constant presence in the Auburn community during her 40+ years there. She was involved with the schools while the kids were younger, along with the Auburn Service League, the League of Women Voters, Auburn Children’s Theater, Fortnightly, and the Auburn Public Library. After Bill retired from medical practice, they spent time enjoying their grandchildren and traveling around the country and the world.
In addition to their home in Auburn, Emily and Bill had a vacation home on Otisco Lake where they spent their summers. Emily was a much loved member of the Amber Beach community.
Emily is predeceased by her husband Bill and her brother Harlan Perrins. She is survived by her brother Allen Perrins of Branford CT, her daughters, Anne , of West Boylston MA, and Jean, of Ithaca NY, her son, Robert, of Menlo Park CA, and her grandchildren, Jonathan, Ellen, Nathaniel, Helen, Jackie, Benjamin, and Daniel.
A memorial service will be held at the lake house on 105 Amber Beach Road in Marietta NY on Saturday August 13, 2016 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions in her name to either Longonot Education Initiative (www.longonoteducation.org) or to the Public Broadcasting Service (www.pbs.org).
Arrangements are in the care of Fay Brothers Funeral Home, 1 West Boylston Street, West Boylston, MA 01583. To place an online message of condolence, please visit www.faybrothers.com