Folsom Funeral Service

Barbara Ruth (Cleaves) Perry, a resident of Westwood since the early 1940’s, died Monday, November 29, 2010 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Glover Hospital in Needham after a brief illness.  She was 93.  Barbara was born September 5th, 1917 in Needham, Massachusetts, a daughter of Pauline (Bickford) and George C. Cleaves Jr., and grew up in Weymouth, Massachusetts.  She graduated from Weymouth High School and earned her bachelor’s Degree from Bridgewater State College.  Barbara taught at the kindergarten at the Islington Community Church (now known as MMO, or Mother’s Morning Out).  When the Town of Westwood initiated public kindergarten classes, Barbara became the program’s first teacher.  She retired in 1982, but continued to served the Westwood School System as a substitute teacher until she was 87 years old.  She was also a talented painter of watercolors who shared her talents by teaching others how to paint.  In addition, she was a member of the Islington Community Church where she sometimes played the cello, and where she belonged to the Sawawa Women’s group.  After the closing of the Islington Community Church, she joined the First Parish Church, where she served as a Deaconess.  Barbara was also a member of Hale Reservation.  Barbara was the wife of the late Lester Stephen Perry Sr. and the sister of the late Paul Cleaves.  She is survived by her son, Lester Stephen Perry Jr., of Westwood; her daughter, Linda Jean Perry of Norwood; and her older sister, Vera Cleaves of Westport Island, Maine.  Visiting hours will be held Sunday, December 5th from 2 to 4 PM at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Monday at 11 AM at the First Parish Church, 340 Clapboardtree Street, Westwood.  Interment will be private.  In lieu of flowers donations in Barbara’s memory to SNARC (South Norfolk County Association of Retarded Citizens), 789 Clapboardtree Street, Westwood, MA 02090 would be appreciated.

Comments(1)