Anne Lauriat (Blake) Perkins

Anne L. Perkins, 99, wife of the late Robert P. Perkins, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, February 21, 2026. She was born at Cable Hospital in Ipswich on July 19, 1926, the daughter of the late Howard J. Blake and Lucy L. (Bailey) Blake.

Anne had a deep love for Ipswich, which she affectionately called “God’s Country.” She grew up at 17 High Street, where she had fond memories of skating on Bakers Pond and sledding down Manning Street with friends.  Anne graduated from Ipswich High School in 1944. During her school years, she was head cheerleader and an active member of many clubs. The Blake family later moved to North Street, where they operated the Blake Funeral Home, now known as Morris Funeral Home today.

Anne cherished her summers spent on Great Neck, dancing at Pavilion Beach with friends and family and creating memories that lasted a lifetime.

After graduating from Lasell College in 1946, she enjoyed her time working at Sylvania and Paines Furniture in Boston.  Anne married Robert Perkins in 1951. The couple shared 65 wonderful years together and devoted their lives to raising six children — Bob, John, Marylu, David, Beth, and Anne. Weekly family dinners were an integral part of life in the Perkins household and a reflection of Anne and Bob’s strong family values.

Affectionately known as “Annie Bear” for her love of stuffed bears, Anne was known by all as one of the kindest people you could ever meet. In her later years, she continued to gather monthly with her lifelong friends from Ipswich and Lasell College and Wakefield neighbors. She was also known for her thoughtful visits to friends and community members who were homebound.  For the past ten years Anne would find herself back in Ipswich – “Heaven on Earth” – living at Cable Gardens overlooking the building in which she was born.  This is where she would create an extended family through the kindness of the residence through Tuesday knitting, Wednesday Left Right Center and Sunday coffee time.

Anne is survived by her six children and their spouses: Bob Perkins and Susan Daly of North Andover, John Perkins of Woburn, Marylu and Ken Parker of Tewksbury, David Perkins of New York City, Anne and Jim Jaworski of Danvers, and the late Elizabeth Binns, formerly of Wenham, and her husband Peter. She was a devoted grandmother to six grandchildren: Kelsey, Emily, Sarah, Samantha, Caitlyn, and Jack and great grandchild, Mason.

Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Hope Church, 1 Pineswamp Road, Ipswich from 9:30 – 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 28, 2026, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM.  Burial will take place later in the Spring at the Highland Cemetery  29 Town Farm Road, Ipswich.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Anne’s memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute   P.O. Box 849168  Boston, MA   02284  or  dana-farber.org/gift .  Assisting the Perkins family is the Morris Funeral Home of Ipswich.  To send a letter of condolence to Anne’s family please go to:  MorrisFH.com .