Anita Perian

November 30, 1923 - February 23, 2013

“If you can't be helpful,” Anita Catherine Perian used to say, “Be Quiet.” An amazingly balanced woman, she always had a smile and a kind word for everyone she ever met. In her book, the glass was always half full...never almost empty. Anita passed away at her Billingsport home in Paulsboro on Saturday February 23, 2013 at the age of 89. Anita Perian nee Keller was born in Philadelphia on November 30, 1923, to an Irish mother and a German-Irish-Welsh father. She was very much her “Daddy's Little Girl.” She is predeceased by her older brothers, Daniel, Jerome and Benedict Keller. Her family relocated to the Red Bank section of National Park three years later. She attended grammar school in National Park and Verga, before attending Paulsboro High School. She graduated there in 1942. After graduation, she worked as a secretary for RCA in Camden, until after her marriage to John N. Perian, Sr., in May 1946. Anita was a member for a few years of the South Jersey Sweet Adeline’s singing group. She also was a regular lap swimmer at the Woodbury YMCA and enjoyed playing golf at the Washington Township Municipal Course with her friends, and later with her oldest son, John Jr. With very few exceptions, she accompanied her friend, Edith Kerestory, every evening for years on a brisk walk around the neighborhood. She also enjoyed riding her bicycle around Billingsport and on the boardwalk at the Jersey Shore. A leisurely walk on the beach gave her such unbridled joy. An exclamation of glee was shouted forth for the whole beach to hear, whenever she crunched an empty clam shell under foot. She was a lifelong lover of the salt air and ocean water, whether it was on a beach in New Jersey or New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where her brother Benny and his wife, Mert lived. She also loved roller skating and singing along with the music at area rinks. When she was younger and still remembered how to write in “short hand,” she would often jot down the words of songs that she heard on the radio. Later she would give the family her own rendition of such tunes as “Cruising down the River” or Eddie Fisher's “Anytime.” She also learned how to play the piano as an adult and enjoyed many years entertaining herself and the family at home. Anita and her husband also enjoyed dancing to the Big Band music of the late 30's, 40's and early 50's. And, the two of them in later years enjoyed square dancing with friends. She also was a member of the local Seniors Club. She and her husband, John, often enjoyed trips with their senior friends to Montreal, New York and points in between. She held everything in nature in awe and would often comment about the beauty of a seemingly insignificant flower or the changing fall colors of the trees. An amazingly resourceful wife and mother, Anita would save money by being the family barber, shoe repairman, seamstress, chef, finance officer, nurse, baker, confessor, psychologist and janitor. Some of her children's favorite recipes included a “Teddy Cake,” which was her rendition of a depression era raisin-nut cake with white frosting that she named in honor of her son, Ted. He loved it! She laid out other mouthwatering meals, such as her version of an Irish stew, corn and squash fritters, a delicious “gringo” chili con carne, with ground beef, onion, garlic, tomatoes and kidney beans. She even tried to dress up the morning oatmeal with raisins, milk and crushed walnuts. Her oldest son, John Jr., said he thoroughly enjoyed the raisins and walnuts but had a tough time hiding the oatmeal. In 1953, Anita lost her mother and best friend from complications from kidney failure. Later that same year, she gave birth to her daughter Ann Marie, whom she named in her mother's memory. Six years later, Jerome Joseph followed and was named after her late father. Anita was a dedicated and loyal member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Paulsboro, now part of St. Clare of Assisi Parish. She regularly attended Mass each week, until illness prevented her from further participation. Although she was a staunch Catholic, whenever she passed any other church or synagogue, she would also say a brief prayer, “Jesus bless us and save us, and help all of the sick and sad at heart.” She will be sorely missed but always remembered by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins and other extended family members, friends and acquaintances. She was a wonderful mentor and will be an extremely hard act to follow. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM Friday March 1, 2013 in St. Clare of Assisi Parish, St. John’s Church, 7th and Beacon Aves., Paulsboro. Relatives and Friends may visit with the family after 9:30 AM Friday until Mass time in church. Interment St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr. Memories can be shared at www.mcbridefoleyfh.com.