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Jo Perkins

CALUMET “I had a great life.”

Josephine Cecilia Capello Perkins, 89, died at home with her family at her side on Saturday, July 30, 2016, after a valiant battle with cancer.

Born on Flag Day, June 14, 1927, in Tamarack Location, the daughter of Anton and Virginia (Rolando) Capello, Jo is a member of the Calumet High School Class of 1945.

Early in her career, the life-long Copper Country resident worked in the Michigan Bell Calumet office. The “AT&T Girls” continued to meet monthly over the years, celebrating their 50th anniversary May 15, 2016.

She was administrative assistant for the Michigan Technological University Humanities Department for more than 17 years, retiring in 1988.

A voracious reader and long-time gardener, Jo enjoyed all music, from the Three Tenors to rock-and-roll band practice in her dining room on Sunday mornings. She loved to dance.

She was a passionate garage-saler, making the rounds every weekend during yard sale season. She tutored Michigan Tech students as a volunteer with the Francis Bacon Literacy Program.

Jo was preceded in death by three sisters, Ann (Ray) Glasgow of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, Marge (Gordon) Kingstrom of Calumet and Julia (Levi) Koski of Calumet; and brothers, Albert of Warren and George (Elsie) Capello of Laurium.

She is survived by her son, Scott Perkins (Cyndi) of Houghton; two grandchildren, Shannon Perkins of Ravenna and Scott Perkins of Rochester, Minnesota; and a brother, Peter (Dolores) Capello of Calumet.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a short prayer service by Fr. Abraham Mupparathara following, on Wednesday August 3, 2016, at Erickson-Crowley-Peterson Funeral Home, 26090 Pine Street, Calumet.

Online condolences can be left for the family at ericksoncrowleypeterson .com.