Jessie J. Perri, age 98 of Washington, Pa, formerly of Cokeburg and Bentleyville, died on December 23, 2020 in Washington Premier Health Center, following a lengthy illness with Alzheimers disease.  Born on February 9, 1922 the daughter of Domenico and Palmarose DiCroce Sabatini, she was married to Salvatore M. Perri who was in a tragic auto accident on December 24, 1949 and died on December 28th.

She attended Cokeburg Elementary School and graduated in 1939, in the first graduating class out of the new Ellsworth High School building, where she was a cheerleader for three years.

Following her husband’s death at age 27, she worked very hard to raise her two young children.  She started at Lapcevic’s Grocery Store in Cokeburg prior to working at Calcon Industries in Washington and retiring after 22 years from the RCA in Meadowlands.  Following her initial retirement, in May of 1982 she moved from Cokeburg to Bentleyville and became the hostess at the Greenlee’s Bentleyville Funeral Home where she lived and worked for 29 years, treating it inside and out as if were her own. Her outgoing personality made her a staple in the business.

When she lived in Cokeburg she was raised within the former St. Joseph Parish, cleaning the church and maintaining the linens for many years. She was a lifetime member of what is now known as St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Bentleyville. She was proud to be known as one of the “Church Pierogi People”. 

She had been actively involved at the Bentworth Senior Citizens Center, where she served as treasurer and delivered Meals on Wheels for 29 years.  She particularly enjoyed their annual October Flea Market sale and their trips to the Washington County Health Center (now known as Premier Health Center) to decorate the 2nd floor solarium for Christmas and the World Day of Caring. She was a member of the Bentleyville Lioness Club and the former Ellsworth Homemakers Club.

She loved all sports and had been an active bowler for years.  In particular, she followed the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers, plus the Penn State Nittany Lions, her son’s and nephew’s alma mater.  Her love of the Steelers was locally well known, as she held season tickets for 38 years, and attended their 1980 Super Bowl against the Rams, and the 2006 Super Bowl against the Seahawks.  She had only missed one at home Steeler game during her tenure of owning her tickets prior to her illness in 2009. She lived to get up on a Sunday morning and with her two best friends, Joan and Carol, and her niece, Monica or daughter, start the day with breakfast; tailgate; see the game; and stop on the way home for dessert.  Life was good.

She is survived by her daughter, Sara (Serafina) Greenlee; daughter in law, Vivian Perri; four grandchildren, Michael Perri, Jacque Buzby; Paige Greenlee and Robyn Bracco; seven great grandchildren, Jeffery Wunder, Kyle Sperber, Ava and Audrey Perri, Noah, Mary and Felicity Bracco;  brother, Ray Sabatini and many nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Vincent S. Perri on June 18, 2019 and her son in law, Barrett G. Greenlee on January 8, 2018; her sister, Frances Dipyatic and brother Frank Sabatini.

All funeral arrangements are private and under the direction of the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Ave., Washington, S. Timothy Warco, Supervisor/Director, Susan Falvo Warco, Director, S. Timothy Warco II, Director.  Contributions in her name can be made to the Bentworth Senior Citizens Center or the Bentleyville Public Library, both located at 913 Main Street, Bentleyville, PA  15314.  Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com