BEVERLY: Marilyn L. Perin, 89, died peacefully in Acton, Maine on June 27, 2016, after an 8 year battle with dementia. She was the beloved wife of the late Ellwood T. Perin, Jr.
Born in Winthrop, MA on January 31, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Frederick W. and Gladys (Booth) Larrivee. She graduated from Revere High School in 1944. She then attended Bryant and Stratton Secretarial School, and lived in Beachmont before moving to Beverly in 1957.
Her first job was in the typing pool at the investment firm of Scudder, Stevens and Clark in Boston. Her typing skills were legendary and she could fly over the keyboard at 120 words per minute. That along with her great work ethic quickly got the attention of one of the top bosses in the firm and she was quickly promoted to being his secretary. Marilyn always ate lunch at her desk and shopped during her lunch break, but the favorite thing she saved her money for was for sailing adventures on the schooners out of Maine.
Marilyn was employed as a legal secretary for Arnold J. Levin for over 20 years. She was an active member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Beverly for over 50 years where she cooked for the bean supper and other events. She volunteered at the Beverly Senior Center Bingo Night. She also collected sneakers and food for Pine Street Inn and Boot Straps. Marilyn always found time to be kind to others – whether it was visiting people who could not get out, taking a neighbor shopping, sending letters and cards, volunteering, or taking care of family.
Marilyn always kept busy and loved to cook, sew, play the piano and dance. Her favorite form of cooking was baking. She treated friends and family to delicious cookies, breads and pies. She was always up for a party, and created beautifully decorated cakes for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. She and her husband, Ellwood met dancing and were always admired on the dance floor.
After retirement, with Marilyn as the trip organizer, she and Ellwood traveled as much as they could. Their trips took them to Bahamas, Idaho, Utah, the Everglades, Baja, California, Alaska, Scotland, Italy, Panama Canal, Bermuda, Holland, Russia, South America, England and Wales, Montana, China, Japan and more!
She is survived by her daughters, Dusty Perin of Maine and Susan Perin of Montana, as well as many nieces and nephews. Besides her parents and her husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Frederick T. Larrivee.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, June 30th from 9 - 10:30 a.m. at the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot St., Beverly. Funeral service to follow at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 4 Ocean St. Beverly at 11 a.m. Interment will be held in Pine Grove Cemetery, Brookline, NH at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 4 Ocean St., Beverly, MA 01915.