Noreen Anne Kelly-Perkes

BREWSTER, MA. and BREWER, ME.

12-27-1933/03-18-2017

Noreen (Nonnie) passed peacefully at the age of 83 at Brigham Hospital in Boston on March 18, 2017 surrounded by her five children. She was born in Brewer, Maine to Thomas W. Kelly, Jr. and Anne (Elias) Kelly. She was a 1952 graduate of Brewer High School and she attended the University of Maine and furthered her study of Nursing at Cornell University and New York Hospital. For many years she practiced as a head psychiatric nurse at Northern Westchester Hospital in New York and eventually furthered her studies at Pace University. She finished out her career as a psychiatric counselor in private practice.

What most distinguishes Nonnie was her dedication to the theatre. She served in all capacities as a long-time member of the Chappaqua Drama Group in New York. She was not only the President of the guild, she was an actor, a costume designer, a producer and a fabulous “tapper.” She mentored youth through the Saw Mill Summer Theatre and was instrumental in many productions of The Horace Greeley High School Senior Musical, which helped foster the careers of dozens of current professional theatre practitioners. For her contributions, in 2010 she was awarded the Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement Award in Westchester County, New York. She was adored and loved by an enormous circle of friends of all ages.

She is survived by her children Michael, Nina, Anthony, Nicole and Terry Tocantins; her grand-children Ysabella, Hannah, Lucy and Elias as well as her brother Captain Thomas W. Kelly, III USN (Ret) and his wife Laurie; nephews Gregory Kelly, William Tocantins and niece Margaret Tocantins. She was predeceased by her loving husbands Philip Tocantins and Daniel Perkes.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Brewster, MA. For further information and to express condolences, please contact Deware Funeral Home, 576 Hancock St., Quincy, MA or www.dewarefuneralhome.com