Worcester - Pauline (Tait) Perry, 90, of 65 Briarwood Circle, formerly of Holden, passed away in her home on Monday, August 29th. She was three days shy of her 91st birthday.
Her husband of 58 years, Roger Newton Perry Jr., passed away in 2005.
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts on September 1, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Richard H. and Ethel L. (Reed) Tait. Pauline was raised in Worcester and attended local schools. She was a graduate of Classical High School Class of 1943. She matriculated to Clark University where she graduated in 1947, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology. In 1973 Pauline returned to school at Assumption College where she earned her Masters degree in Psychology and Guidance.
Mrs. Perry started her career working for the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology. In 1963 she began teaching Biology at Wachusett Regional High School where she worked for the next 23 years. Leaving her job as an educator in 1986, Pauline volunteered her time as a Lay Chaplain for Worcester State Hospital. In 1991 she returned to school, attending Seabury Western Theological Seminary. On July 13, 1992, Retired Reverend Andrew Wissemann ordained her a Deacon. She continued her volunteer work at Worcester State Hospital as a Protestant Chaplain for many years. Throughout her vocation, Mrs. Perry served as a Deacon at various local churches including St. John’s Episcopal Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, all in Worcester and St. Francis Episcopal Church in Holden.
She was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, North American Association of Diaconate, Association of Sisters of St. Margaret, Fellowship of the Way of the Cross, and the Pleiades Honor Society at Clark University.
Mrs. Perry is survived by three daughters, Claudia P. Waterhouse and her husband, William of Bedford; Janet S. Perry of Shrewsbury; Kristina P. Buckley and her husband Brian of Eliot, ME; a son, Richard T. Perry of Colebrook, CT; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; a sister, Susan T. Parker of Texas. She was predeceased by her sister, Jeanne T. Plaza of Florida.
Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 6, from 4 until 7 pm at the CALLAHAN FAY & CASWELL FUNERAL HOME, 61 Myrtle St., Worcester. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, Sept 7 at 10 am at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 695 Southbridge St., Worcester. Burial will follow at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Memorial Donations may be made in memory of Mrs. Perry to St. Matthew’s Memorial Fund, 695 Southbridge St., Worcester, MA 01610 or to the St. Luke’s Memorial Fund, 921 Pleasant St., Worcester, MA 01609.