Eileen M. Perkins

Eileen M. Perkins, 101, of South Kingstown, passed away Sunday, November 17, 2024 at the South Kingstown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was the wife of the late Paul J. Perkins. Born in Milton, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Harold and Mary (Hannon) Gray.

Eileen was a quiet, reserved woman who preferred to spend time engaged in needlepoint, knitting, sewing, quilting, rug hooking and crossword puzzles, all of which she did with skill and perfection.

She always made sure that her children were well-fed despite her aversion to cooking. Her favorite line was “I have been cooking since I was fourteen years old.” Her father had passed away suddenly when she was fourteen and her mother was left a widow with six children to raise. At that point Eileen became the family cook, while her own mother held multiple jobs to support the large family.

Eileen was an intelligent woman, graduating second in her class of six hundred students from Quincy High School in Massachusetts. She was fully dedicated to the many positions she held throughout her life; but was most talkative about her work at the Hingham Ammunition Naval Depot, during World War II.

She never put unreasonable expectations upon her children, other than to work hard. Fairness was important to her, making sure they were treated equally.

As she has come to her life’s close, she will be missed by those who enjoyed meals at her table and the cookies she would always hand you as you were leaving her back door. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren came to know her as Cookie Nanny. The stove has been turned off; may you rest peacefully.

She is survived by her children, Eileen Edel, Paul Michael Perkins and his wife Carolyn, James Perkins, and Thomas Perkins and his husband Ed; four grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Service and burial for Eileen will be private.