PORTLAND — Helen T. Perrino, 88, died June 13 at the South Portland Nursing Home.
She was born on Aug. 30, 1920, in Lawrence, Mass., the daughter of Raymond and Catherine (Ricci) DeFelice.
In 1938, she graduate of Lawrence High School and two years later, received her associates degree from MacIntosh Business College. She later studied at Harvard and Boston University.
On July 4, 1943, she married her childhood sweetheart, Pasquale J. Perrino, at Holy Rosary Church.
During World War II, she was the director of the Child Health Clinic at Clover Hill Hospital in Lawrence.
In 1957, she established one of the first day care centers in Maine with her dear friend, Dorothy Stinson, called Mother Hubbard’s Day Nursery.
She was a former member of the Manchester’s Garden Club, Manchester Grange, and past president of the National Association of Early Childhood Development.
She drew joy from her grandchildren, entertaining and traveling.
She was predeceased by her husband Pasquale in August, 2006, and by her younger brother Raymond DeFelice, Jr. of California.
Survivors include her daughter, Pamela Michaud and her husband William of Portland, her son, Pasquale J. Perrino Jr. and his wife Jeannette of Randolph; two grandchildren, Michael J. Perrino of Freeport and Marc A. Perrino of Belgrade Lakes; one great-granddaughter, Ava Mae; her brother, Alfred DeFelice of Plymouth, Mass.; several nieces and nephews; and cousins.
Memorial services were held earlier this week.
Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Crawford Funeral Home, 172 State St., Portland.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Portland Maine Division, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312 or American Alzheimer’s Association, 170 U.S. Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105.
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