Obituary of Arlene Angelina Perillo

Arlene Angelina Perillo, 82, passed away on August 20, 2023 from sudden heart failure. Her passing was a shock to her family, neighbors, and many friends. Arlene was born on January 29, 1941 to her beloved parents Isabella and Alfred (Bella and Al) Palmieri. She grew up with two younger sisters, Karen and Patricia. They lived in Brooklyn on Minna Street and spent their summers in Congers, upstate New York. Arlene was a beautiful, leggy redhead who looked like a movie star and had lots of boyfriends as a teenager. Arlene attended Erasmus High School (she loved to tell people she went to school with Barbra Streisand) where she met her future husband, Joseph Perillo, who she referred to as “Mr. Wonderful” after a hit song of the time. They married and moved to Staten Island. In 1971 they had a daughter, Jennifer. Joe and Arlene were wonderful parents, although Arlene worried about everything and drove her daughter crazy sometimes. Arlene was very artistic – she sewed Jennifer’s Halloween costumes by hand and made miniature dollhouse furniture that looked real. She was an excellent cook, known for her Italian specialties like meatballs and Sunday sauce. She also loved her poodle, Tinka Bell, who she treated like another child. The family had summer vacations in Al and Bella’s house in Shirley, Long Island. Jennifer and her cousins loved to do scavenger hunts and they would look for clues all over the house. Everyone went crabbing off the dock so Bella could make her famous crab sauce. The family also loved to visit Sebonack Beach in Southampton. Arlene could walk the beach for hours looking for shells and gathered a huge shell collection in her home. In 1985, Arlene and her family moved to East Moriches, Long Island. Although she didn’t want to be far from her sisters and nieces, she loved Long Island and came to make many devoted friends there. Arlene and Joe were married for many years and she never stopped caring for him, especially when he faced a difficult illness toward the end of his life. Although they separated, they remained extremely close until he passed away in 2001. In 2018, Arlene moved to Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, to be close to Jennifer and her husband, Rich, and especially her beloved granddaughter Alyssandra who was born in 2012. It took a lot of energy and courage to move in her 70s, but Arlene made a beautiful home filled with her shells, angels, plants, and flowers. Arlene was a fun-loving “mema” who knew how to make Aly laugh. She loved to wear wacky Halloween costumes, play silly games, and once she even jumped in the pool with all her clothes on. She and Aly liked to make crafts together, go shopping at Michael’s, or just cuddle up and watch TV. Mema even tried to play Aly’s favorite video games like Mario Kart (mema couldn’t see the screen very well, so Aly always won). Arlene was a very caring grandmother, mother, sister, neighbor, and friend. She was always cooking for people and bringing them gifts of food and wine. She remembered everybody’s birthday and would send silly cards covered with stickers for every occasion. She loved to do research on her computer; if you told her you had a problem, she would immediately send you dozens of links to websites, whether you wanted them or not. She also loved to share recipes and cleaning tips. She was feisty and had no problems yelling at people when they didn’t do what she wanted, but she always made up and people loved her for her big mouth and her big heart. Arlene was preceded in death by her mother, Isabella and Alfred Palmieri, and her husband, Joseph Perillo. She is survived by her daughter Jennifer Perillo, son-in-law Richard Kolb, and granddaughter Alyssandra Grace Perillo Kolb; her sisters, Patricia Nicchio and Karen Franchi; and her nieces, Christy Franchi, Nicole Franchi, Kim Leo, and Trisha Leo Vallaro; her grandnieces, Bella and Alivia; her grandnephews, Andreas and Anthony; and a host of loving cousins, aunts, and uncles. There will be a viewing from 5 to 9 PM on Wednesday, August 22 at Matthew Funeral Home, 2508 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY. On Thursday, August 23 at 10 AM, a funeral mass will be held at 10 AM at St. Roch’s, 602 Port Richmond Avenue, Staten Island, NY. Arlene will be laid to rest at 11:30 AM at Resurrection Cemetary, 361 Sharrott Avenue, Staten Island, NY. In lieu of flowers, we request that all friends and family of Arlene have masses said in her honor. She was always arranging masses for others and would be happy to know that her loved ones are remembering her in this way. Please also post memories, condolences, photos and/or videos of Arlene on this website. Your funny stories and will be a great comfort to Arlene’s family at this time.