Elsie Joyce Gilthorpe Perez's site can be found at http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/theneworleansadvocate/elsie-joyce-gilthorpe-perez-condolences/180714344?&eid=sp_gbapprove

Mrs. Joyce, Don, Jean and John,
So sorry to hear of the passing of Don/Pop. May your good memories bring you peace in the days that are most difficult.

I was Mr. Don and Mrs. Joyce's caregiver for six months. In that six months, i grew to love them like they were my own grandparents, not clients. Mr. Don never failed at making me laugh everyday. The love he had for Mrs. Joyce warmed my heart so much. I looked forward to going to work everyday.

He would always talk about "Bubbles", the dancer he was going to leave everything to. I would love his side-comments as we watched TV during the day. He always had some sort of joke to tell.

I can only hope to be half the parent he was to his three children one day. The way his eyes would light up when Jean would call, the way he proudly looked at Donald, Jr, whenever he came around to visit, and the way he lit up with joy whenever John came home with good news.

I lost touch with the Perez's and I regret it. I wish I could have taken the time to visit them. 

I continue to keep Mrs. Joyce and the family in my thoughts and prayers, because they lost a truly beautiful soul.

Love and miss you, Mr. Don.

Until we meet again,
Jessica Adams

Donald Perez, A Remembrance

On behalf of my mother, Joyce, sister, Jean, and brother, John, I would like to thank you for joining us to pay respects for my father.
It is difficult to sum up the life of even the simplest man in a 5 or 10 minute tribute.  It becomes impossible when that man is Donald Perez.
I would like to share some interesting, little known facts and stories about my dad:
 During the Great Depression, he supported his family from the age of 13 to 18 with a paper route for the Times Picayune.  He would get up with my grandmother, every morning.  She would make him coffee and he would set out on his bicycle to deliver papers in Old Metairie.  He was head paperboy which meant that if another route was not thrown, he would be responsible for throwing his own route and the other route as well.  My father's picture appeared in the Times Picayune because he delivered papers during a hurricane.  His was the only route delivered that day.
 In the early 1980's, through a series of events unknown to me, he became friends with a local a local physician.  For the next 15 or so years, he would be alerted to expectant mothers who were interested in adoptions and found local families throughout Louisiana who were seeking to become adoptive parents.  He was directly responsible for matching families and children for almost decades.  Many of whom kept in touch with him throughout his life.  He never charged any fees for this service.  Adoptive parents paid only the medical expenses and court fees for the adoptions.  He kept a list of names in his drawer.  When the time came, he would start calling.
 Being an attorney was a distant second career choice for my dad.  He dreamed of running a retail plumbing supply company with his best friend, my Uncle Richard.  He said that he loved retail sales and interaction with the public.  He could think of no better job than to be in retail sales with your best friend.
 In, 1952, my father came home from Osaka, Japan for 30 days leave.  He was heading to Naval Justice School in Providence, RI.  While on leave, my mom and he were engaged.  At the time, Mama was the secretary for the NROTC commandant who was an O-6, Captain.  Mom interceded on behalf of Pop had unlike all of his classmates who were redeployed to ships or overseas, Pop was stationed in to a Navy Base, in San Diego, CA.
Mom and Pop were married in 1953.  She moved to San Diego, CA for a couple of years before returning to New Orleans.  A greater love hath no man.  His eyes would light up when she entered room.  He told everybody that he married her because she was so mean.  They were an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.  
I'll share a couple of quick stories family stories:
Donald â€“ He taught me to bartend at the tender age of 8 years old.  I would remember making vodka martinis with plenty of ice.
Jean â€“ When my sister, Jean fell into the pile of ants, he wiped her legs and arms with his bare hands.  He would rather take the stings than see her hurt.
John - Fifteen years ago, this week, at the age of 68, my brother, John won a trip to Miami, FL to drive racing cars.  John picked Pop to join him.  For about a week, the two of them were professional race car drivers in training.
His pride was his grandchildren â€“ 
Ryan â€“ I'm not telling secrets when I share with you that Papa had a brilliant mind and was an avid reader.  It filled his heart with joy when he learned that his grandson Ryan could finish novel in a couple of sittings.  Papa began buying hard cover, gold leaf classic books and shipping them to Ryan to encourage his gift.
Andrew â€“ Before he had become immobile but after his bowling years ended, he learned of Andrew's interest in bowling.  Paw-paw loved bowling and was a very good bowler in his day.  He tracked Andrew's bowling career carefully.  He attended matches, reveled in victories, and agonized over the defeats.  There was no greater gift a grandson could have given him than to be interested in, and good at, bowling.
John Joseph â€“ He had a special relationship with my son, and his youngest grandson.  He pretended that he was senile and would wish John incorrect holiday greetings.  At Christmas, it would be Happy Halloween, etc.  It was not long before John learned the game and would walk in on any visit with a greeting of happy birthday.  
In closing, I have a couple of stories to share with you that I hope will make you smile.  
Fishing Trip â€“ Our across the street neighbors were early risers and very nosey.  One Saturday, we were invited on a family trip to go fishing in Laffite, LA.  Pop tried to convince Jean and me that we should wrap up John in a sheet and go throw him into the back of the station wagon with a shovel.  We would all then run out to the car, get in and drive off. 
Christmas Tree â€“ Pop one time had us store a flocked Christmas Tree in the garage for 363 days.  Then two days before the next Christmas, he put it on the lawn.  If neighbors were to ask, we were to tell them that the family was breaking up and we had cancelled Christmas.
Halloween Trick-or-treat â€“ When I was a kid, Pop paid me $10 to dress up in my Halloween costume and go trick-or-treating at 10 o'clock in the morning.  All else I had to do was to describe people's faces when I knocked on the door and not tell them I was being paid.
Bull Whip for mother's day â€“ One Sunday on May, he accepted a fishing trip.  That Sunday happened to be Mother's Day.  Knowing that this would probably cause tension in his relationship with Mom, he stopped at a sporting goods store on the way home and purchased a bull whip to help her control the kids.  
Pop was everybody's friend.  He had a way of making everybody feel special and close.  It was a gift.  People's lives were made a little happier, better, richer, for having known him.
                In conclusion, I want to again thank you for joining our family for this very emotional and personal day.  We ask Pop's forgiveness for not following his wishes of being placed in the casket with no pants and having only the bottom open.

Jean, 
So sorry for your loss, our prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Cathy Breaux Smith, Gary , Taylor and Olivia

Dear Joyce, Don, Peggy, Jean & John, John, and Ryan & Andrew, and John:        We will miss Don Senior (Big Don) dearly and fondly remember the good times hanging out with him.  He had a keen mind and excellent sense of humor that would make us laugh at the lowest of times.  He was a devoted loving husband, father and grandfather.  He supported and defended our Constitution and freedoms as a Soldier and as a lawyer.  He was an gentleman, scholar and friend. He excelled at all aspects of life.  His life was well spent on earth and now his pride lives on in all of you.  Love, Gregg & Jennifer Mace, plus Liz, Sue, Emily, baby Owen "Bobby" and the two Dans.

May GOD Bless And Be With Your Family During This Time.  Always Know GOD Is Just A Prayer Away. Look To The Hills, And Keep Praying GOD Will Be With You.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Donald Gerard Perez

23 août 1931 – 6 octobre 2014

Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries

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