Frances Vilutis Perou

Frances Vilutis Perou was born in Chicago Illinois on December 7, 1926 to John and Louise Vilutis. Her parents emigrated from Lithuania to Chicago before the first World War. Frances grew up on the South Side of Chicago with her two older brothers Matt and Len. She graduated from high school, finished a course in business and accounting, and worked as a secretary. She then went to nursing school at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, one of the top hospitals in the country at the time, where she obtained a nursing degree. During her training at Michael Reese she met her future husband, Dr. Maurice L. Perou, who was a resident in Pathology. Maurice (who predeceased her in April 2017 at the age of 91) was a native of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Their truly American marriage between a first generation Lithuanian-American and a French-Haitian-American immigrant, lasted for 65 years. They demonstrated courage and love in making a life and family together. Much of Frances’ family life was spent in Sterling, Illinois, where they moved to in 1954. There Frances and Maurice spent 35 years, where they raised their family of four children, Jacquelynne, Debra, Maureen, and Charles. As was true of the time, Frances was a busy homemaker, who with Maurice, gave their children a wonderful foundation of music, good food, education, art, sports, and a love for traveling. With their love and support, Jacquelynne Corey, is an ENT doctor practicing in Chicago, and a recently retired professor from the University of Chicago; Debra Perou is the Executive Director of Rockingham Nutrition Meals on Wheels program covering Rockingham county New Hampshire; Maureen Perou is the Vice President of Tivic Health, a medical device company, and Charles Perou is Professor of Genetics and a cancer researcher at the University of North Carolina. Although busy with her family, Frances had many interests and activities. She continued to use her accounting and business skills at home, and occasionally for Maurice’s work. She was a pioneer in promoting women’s health and wellness. In addition to healthy eating, she was an active tennis player and yoga demonstration instructor. Frances had many great personal friends, was a voracious reader, and an avid follower of the news and politics. After 35 years in Sterling, Frances and Maurice moved to Sanibel Island, Florida, where they lived for 28 years. Frances loved her life with Maurice in Sanibel, and added tai’chi to her daily routine actively until the age of 92. In Sanibel her love of family included her grandchildren, where many a grandchild learned to swim in their pool, to love the ocean, and to enjoy many cuisines. Frances and Maurice, both excellent cooks themselves, also enjoyed being “foodies”, tasting and enjoying the many wonderful restaurants in the Fort Myers-Sanibel-Captiva area, where many restaurant owners knew them by name. Frances was known for her colorful hats, which always brought a smile from others. Frances and Maurice began the traditions of family reunions where all the extended family could get together, with children, spouses, partners, grandchildren, and friends would gather to celebrate their anniversaries, their 90th birthday parties, and more. Her grandchildren include Melissa Corey, Alex Corey, Ben Hain, and Elyse Hain (Jacky’s children); Adam Amir, Brett Hermans, and Sarah Hermans (Debbie’s children); Gabrielle Lubin and Natalie Lubin (Maureen’s children); and Erik Perou and Emily Perou (Chuck’s children). Her great granddaughter, Whimbrel Hermans, Brett’s daughter, made a special visit to her great grandmother recently. Frances was much beloved by all of her family and friends. Frances moved to the Cypress Cove retirement community in Fort Myers after the death of Maurice in 2017. She died peacefully of natural causes on November 18th, 2019, with her four children by her side. She was a devoted church member and parishioner at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Sterling, Il, at Saint Isabel Catholic Church on Sanibel Island, and at Saint Columkille in Fort Myers. Donations may be sent in her name to Saint Isabel Catholic Church, 3559 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957. A memorial service will be held at a later date in early 2020 at Saint Isabel on Sanibel Island.

Frances Vilutis Perou

December 7, 1926 - November 19, 2019