Florence Ann Perri

Florence "Flo" Perri, aged 85 of Menomonie, passed away on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at home.

She was born the youngest of four children on April 21, 1940 in Pittsburgh, PA to Donald & Helen McLennan. She graduated from Indiana State College in Pennsylvania with a degree in Elementary Education.

Florence married John A. Perri on November 10, 1962 in Pittsburgh, PA, and the two would pursue careers within the education field in Pennsylvania, New York, and eventually Wisconsin after they moved into the Menomonie area in September, 1966. When John was not referring to her as "Mac," he lovingly referred to her as his "bride." The marriage resulted in two wonderful sons, Christopher and Michael, and eventually three "darling" grandchildren-Josephine, Emma, and Ian.

She continued her career in education as a fifth and sixth grade teacher at the former Lucas Elementary School within the Menomonie School District, and eventually moved on to advertising sales at the local WMNE/WMEQ radio station. She also became a skilled tax preparer who used her talents to assist countless residents in the Menomonie area with completing and filing their income tax forms during the annual tax season.

Florence was involved in various volunteer organizations, such as Red Cross Blood Mobile, Dunn County Healthcare Center, Interfaith Care Givers, Habitat for Humanity, Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity, Dunn County Humane Society, and Literacy Volunteers of America. She was especially excited and proud of her involvement with the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work project for eight years, working directly alongside the former president and first lady on numerous projects.

Her wonderful cooking was appreciated by all who experienced it. When she was home for holidays, her dinners were nothing short of extraordinary. During the many years John was teaching at UW-Stout, exchange students, who could not return to their homes for the holidays, were invited to dine with the Perris. Over the years, students from India, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea, as well as Indigenous American students, were welcomed into her home for wonderful food and conversation.

Flo loved to meet new people, create new friendships, and make lasting memories. This love inspired her to boldly travel to many places throughout our country and abroad, including Mexico, Canada, Europe, and China. She once hiked with her husband all the way to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back out within a single day, against park service recommendations, and then turned around did it again a year later with her children.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, John Perri, in April 2022, her parents Donald and Helen McLennan, her sister Francis (George) Riley of Pittsburgh, PA, her sister Nancy McLennan of Highland Beach, FL, and her brother George (Sally) McLennan of Downers Grove, IL. She also was preceded in death by John and Fidelis Geier of Pittsburgh, PA, the special couple next door who helped raise Flo during her childhood years.

She is survived by her son, Michael Perri, daughter-in-law Margaret, and her granddaughter Emma, all of Eau Claire, WI, her other son Christopher Perri, her grandchildren Josephine and Ian, and their mother, Stefanie Pusateri, all of Chippewa Falls, WI. She is further survived by several nieces and nephews, including Donald (Laura) McLennan of Bayside, WI, David McLennan of Gold Beach, OR, Diane Snyder of Shorewood, WI, Steven Riley of Newtown, PA, Timothy Riley of Boynton Beach, FL, Kevin Riley of North Wales, PA, Karen Tortorella of Highland Beach, FL, sister-in-law Janet Hansom of Pittsburgh, PA, and nephew Robert Morgan of Knoxville, TN.

The family would like to express our profound appreciation to the Mayo Clinic Hospice Team for their professionalism, care, compassion, and love they showed every day during Flo's last few weeks. The entire team are truly angels on this Earth. We would also like to express many thanks to our friends and neighbors at Little Elk Creek Church for their love and support over the years.

The Stokes, Prock & Mundt Funeral Chapels in Altoona and the Cremation Society of Wisconsin are assisting the family during this time.

Florence will be missed by all who knew her and would want us all to celebrate her life rather than mourn her death.

Into paradise may the angels lead you.