GLOUCESTER – Dorothy E. (Maskell) Reardon Perkio, 94, formerly a resident of Poplar Park for 30 years, died peacefully Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at the Seacoast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center with family by her side. She was the wife of the late Emil O. Perkio, who died in July of 1975.
Born in Boston on February 22, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Harold James and Ida May (Nash) Maskell. A resident of Gloucester since adolescence, she was a graduate of the Gloucester High School class of 1938.
Dottie was employed as a cook – manager for the Gloucester public school system from 1964 until her retirement in 1980. She continued to fill her time working as a receptionist in a Chiropractic office part-time for ten more years and then volunteered at the Rose Baker Senior Center as a switch board operator. She had a very outgoing personality and made friends wherever she went.
Dottie was a longtime member of the Gloucester United Methodist Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir and was very involved in church activities. Dottie was a die hard Red Sox fan and attended her last Fenway game at the age of 93. She took great pleasure in tracking the weather. She also enjoyed gardening, arts and crafts and was an avid reader; and was formerly an active member of the Friends of the Council on Aging.
She was affectionately known to her family as Mumu, after the birth of her first grandchild in 1967. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, David A. and Peggy Lee
(Robinson) Reardon of Gloucester, Harry J. and Linda (Pesce) Reardon of Beverly, two daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah Hansen-Benn and Nicholas Benn of Rockport and Diana M. and Ralph Whitten of Truckee, CA; eight grandchildren, Heidi Reardon and partner Stan Campbell, Amanda Reardon Ofanos, Kyle Reardon, Michael Reardon, Mark, husband of Tracy Reardon, William Hansen, husband of Theresa McGovern, Stephen Whitten and Briana Whitten; four great-grandchildren, Madison Turner, Gryphon Ofanos, Jack Reardon and Theodore McGovern Hansen. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews and friends, including her longtime friend, Lila Victorine, and her new dear friend, Miriam Karcher. She was also predeceased by infant sons, Daniel and James Reardon; two grandchildren, Tracy and Dana Steline; four sisters, Florence Robertson, Marion Bowman, Shirley Bradford, and Eunice Jacobs; and her former spouse, Harry J. Reardon, Jr.
A celebration of her life will be held on Wednesday morning in the Gloucester Untied Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. A reception will be held following the service downstairs at the church. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Friends of Seacoast, 292 Washington Street, Gloucester, MA 01930 or a charity of one’s choice.