Emily Harrison (Perry) Barrett, 85, a long-time resident of Mystic, CT, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 21, 2022. Emily was born (as a twin to sister Cecilia) on August 9, 1936, in Bristol, Rhode Island, to Calbraith and Marie Lea Perry. Emily graduated from Colt High School in Bristol, and earned a bachelor of education degree from Rhode Island College of Education. Later, after a year of teaching second grade at St. Andrews Priory in Honolulu, she earned her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Emily first taught in a few nursery schools, and then for many years as an inspiring kindergarten teacher in the Groton Public Schools, where she was awarded Teacher of the Year. She was married to her beloved husband Robert Barrett in 1959. Her four sons, whom she adored, soon followed. Nathan Robert was born in 1960, Benjamin Arthur in 1962, James Harrison in 1966, and Joshua Thomson in 1968. Emily grew up in a very musical house and always had an amazing passion for music. She played the piano beautifully and could sightread anything. Her first job as a young teen was as an organist for Trinity Church in Bristol. With her children, she loved to gather around the piano for family singalongs. She performed in many Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, and also sang in the Chorus of Westerly for many years. She later sang in the Mystic River Chorale and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus. She was also the founder and for many years director of the singing group, Old Hat, and, with her guitar, led them in performing at many local nursing homes and other locations. Emily and Bob have been long time communicants of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Mystic, where Emily served on the vestry. She had many passions in life, and another was her hard work toward the elimination of world hunger. Emily will be greatly missed and forever remembered by her husband Bob, son Nate and wife Debbie of Chelmsford, MA, Ben of Voluntown, CT, Jamie and wife Kimberly and their two children Sam and Kate of Franklin, MA, and Josh and wife Cheryl of Noank, CT. She is also survived (and missed terribly) by her many family members and friends, including her siblings (and their families) Elizabeth Perry of Maine, Eleanor Good of Rhode Island, Cecilia Perry of Rhode Island, and Matthew C. Perry of Maryland. Along with her parents, Emily was predeceased by her younger sister Alicia Seavey. A service of celebration will be held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 15 Pearl Street, Mystic on Saturday, April 23, at 10:00am. Burial will follow in St. Mark's Memorial Garden.
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