Colleen Mae Perry

Colleen Mae Perry, age 88, of Munising, died at her home under the loving care of her family and North Woods Hospice on Tuesday morning, August 25, 2015. She was born on May 22, 1927, in Munising to John and Leota (Cremer) Tiernan. Colleen graduated from Sacred Heart School and then William G. Mather High School. She worked briefly at the Munising Paper Company. Colleen married Edward "Buck" Perry on February 5, 1948, and together raised their seven children. While raising their family, Colleen was a doctor, lawyer, psychologist, referee, BFF to all her children, and a little General George Washington. She and Buck celebrated sixty-seven years of marriage and family in February. Colleen was a member of Sacred Heart Church and the National Society of Foresters. She enjoyed playing cards and bingo, dancing, singing, visiting and drinking coffee with her sisters, spending time with her family, going on annual girl's weekend trips, and enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren's sporting events, especially her boys' wrestling.

Colleen is survived by her husband, Buck; their children, Judy (Jack) Linsky of Utica, Susan Marentette and Theresa Cota (Rick Hendrick) of Munising, Kittie (Dennis) Mahoney of Christmas, Danny (Lynn) Perry of Wetmore, Pete (Karin) Perry of Munising, Paul (Kathy) Perry of Sault Ste. Marie; thirteen grandchildren, Jamie, Lori, Dan, Chelsea, Ben, Mandy, Melissa, Crystal, Peter, Neil, Jordan, Jeffrey and Jenna; twelve great-grandchildren, Colleen, Tommy, Noah, Sean, Cody, Abbie, Mackenzie, Madelyn, Nick, Tori, Owen, Aaron, and one on the way; sister, Viola Schultz of Munising; sisters' and brothers-in-law, Louise Tiernan, Milly Tiernan, Emily Tiernan, Phyllis (Arnie) Aho, Joyce (Jim) Rindhage, Bill Perry, Jack Perry; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Colleen was preceded in death by her parents John and Leota Tiernan, infant children, Kathleen and twins William and Charles; sister, Dorothy Champine; and brothers, Jack, Pete, Bill, and Ted Tiernan; sons-in-law - Bruce Cota and David Marentette; and sisters' in-law Laurie Leffel and Helen Perry, and brother-in-law Jess Leffel.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m. there will be a Parish Vigil Service and an opportunity for friends and family to tell stories and memories of Colleen. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, August 28, 2015 at Sacred Heart Church in Munising at 3:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising. She will be escorted by her grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either michiganmiracleleague.org or Penrickton School for the Blind at 26530 Eureka Rd., Taylor MI 48180.