Margaret M. Perrone

Margaret Mary (Zirbes) Perrone, age 85, of Lansing, died Tuesday, March 13, 2012, in Lansing, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.  She was born June 17, 1926, in Miami, Florida, the daughter of William and Margaret (McManus) Zirbes.  Margaret attended Resurrection High School in Lansing, graduating as valedictorian of the Class of 1944.  She won an academic scholarship to the University of Michigan, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1948.  She later earned a Masters Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Loyola University in 1987.

Margaret married Dominick Perrone of Bath on August 20, 1949, at St. Mary Cathedral in Lansing.  Together they had ten children who survive them:  Frank, of Ypsilanti, William (Pamela) of East Lansing, Mary Anne (Ricardo Bartelme) of Ann Arbor, Thomas (Sherry) of Battle Creek, Margaret of Westlake Village, CA, Dominick (Amy Tarrant) of Oak Park, and John, Joseph, Timothy (Rosemarie) and Daniel, all of Lansing, as well as daughters-in-law Alice Perrone, Kathryn Ferguson, Sarah Perrone  and son-in-law Andrew Rickelmann.

She is also survived by her brother, William (Joan) Zirbes of Pacific Palisades, CA, brother-in-law James Dettling of Ann Arbor, sisters-in-law Rose Doering of Grand Rapids and Carmel Perrone of Cambridge, MA, twenty grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and great-grandnieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert, her sister, Catherine Dettling, and her husband, Dominick Perrone.

Margaret taught in the Lansing School District at Grand River School for one year before marriage.  While raising a family, Margaret operated a Lansing State Journal substation, distributing newspapers to home delivery carriers for over 12 years.  She also worked in several positions at Lansing Catholic Central High School, retiring in 2007 after 36 years of service.

Margaret was a faithful member of St. Mary Cathedral, singing in the Choir for over 50 years, and the Association of Catholic Women.  She served on the Board and as proofreader of Faith Magazine, published by the Diocese of Lansing.  She and her husband were charter inductees into the Lansing Catholic High School Sports Hall of Fame.  In 2000, Margaret was awarded the Community Service Award for her service to Catholic education in Lansing.

Margaret served on the Board of the Alumnae Association’s Henderson House at the University of Michigan, and was awarded the Distinguished Alumna Award by the University.  Margaret traveled to South America on a missionary visit in 1989; she also volunteered with the Michigan Peace Team. Margaret truly devoted her life to her family, church, and the cause of education.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Rev. Fr. Vito Perrone at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2012, at St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI. The Rite of Committal will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday and 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lansing Catholic High School or the Michigan Peace Team.

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9 Messages to “Margaret M. Perrone

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Catherine and William Hostetler
March 14, 2012 at 10:56 am

May Her Memory Be Eternal.

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Peggy and Gene Bower
March 14, 2012 at 3:47 pm

Margaret will be “home” for Easter with the risen Christ!
May God Bless her and her family.

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Mark & Julie Stenske
March 14, 2012 at 10:33 pm

Tim and Joe,

Our prayers are with you and family during this time of sorrow. Your mother was a true gem and we were privleged to know her.

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jack perrone
March 15, 2012 at 1:49 pm

To all my cousins I am sorry for my aunt and your mothers passing and I will pray for her soul, it was good to see her and talk to her last summer. Love Jack Perrone

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Siobhan Perrone Waldinger
March 15, 2012 at 3:26 pm

I am so sorry for the loss of dear Aunt Margaret. What an accomplished woman. May God be with all my cousins for support and comfort during this difficult time.

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David and Kathleen Barrett
March 16, 2012 at 10:32 am

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Perrone family during this difficult time. Margaret was a very special lady and will be greatly missed by all who were fortunate to know her.

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John and Ann Marie Sicklesteel
March 16, 2012 at 11:22 am

Dominick, Amy, and Family

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of your Family and to your Mother. I can see that your Mom lived an accomplished and truly blessed life. Hopefully all of your good memories will give you comfort during this time.

Sincerely,
John and Ann Marie

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Edward Flak
March 18, 2012 at 10:12 am

To the Perrone family. I am sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, my great-aunt Margaret. I will always remember her calm, steady and spiritual nature. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

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Rose and Dominic Olivet
March 19, 2012 at 9:51 pm

Our deepest sympathies to the Perrone family. Margaret was a great woman.

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