Obituary of Mary Christine Perham

Mary was born in St. James Mercy Hospital on July 3, 1951 to Donald and Lou Ann (Slatter) Perham of Woodhull. Her education began with elementary school in Woodhull before transferring to Jasper Central School, graduating in 1969. She received a bachelors degree in Elementary & Special Education from SUNY Geneseo, Class of 1973, going on to teach in the Canandaigua school system, and following up with a Masters degree from University of Cincinnati. Her parents raised her to be an ardent Ohio State fan, and summers in Cincinnati fostered a lifelong devotion to the Bengals and the Reds - at whose games she was a frequent attendee. In the '80s, Mary directed the latchkey program for the Addison Central School district, and began a career in local journalism. She has worked for both the Elmira Star Gazette and the Corning Leader, covering a gamut of topics from local school and police matters to interviews with The Moody Blues and Mark Twain's great-niece Eleanor Pennock, the latter leading to a happy friendship. Her strong sense of loyalty and community have also been part of her recent management of the Steuben County Facebook pages. Mary was an active parishioner at St. Mary's Parish in Canandaigua. More recently, she has continued active participation at both St. Catherine of Siena's in Addison and St. Ann's in Hornell, churches that have been part of her life since childhood. Mary is survived by many friends to whom she has been devoted over the years. Also by her cousins, Joseph R. Perham and Mary Ann Perham of Pittsford. And by siblings Donald (Jane) Perham, Ann (Tim) Loden, John Perham, Stephen Perham, Thomas Sonham and David Perham, along with nieces and nephews Michael (Mary), Oliver, Regina, Daniel (Ali), Miles, Ada, Cleo, Kathleen (André), Sara (David), Eden, Asher, Shoshone, Matthew (Lexie) and Natalie. Beyond question, she loved them all with a devotion both fierce and gentle. Mary recently covered the impact of Tropical Storm Debby on the Southern Tier with the Steuben County Facebook page. A percussionist in the Woodhull Community Band, she was strongly affected by its impact on her hometown. In what became her final post, she offered that the United Way of the Southern Tier is administering the relief fund, https://ow.ly/lYbt50SVi9F. The family asks for participation in that effort in lieu of flowers. Mary’s family will receive friends on Monday, September 9 from 6 to 8 pm at the H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home, 29 E. Main St. Canisteo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 10 at 10 am at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Hornell. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Canisteo.