Obituary of Persis B. Rickes

" Persis Barbara (Fellows) Rickes, 80, of Wrights Circle, passed away at home 29 November 2006 after a long battle with cancer. Her family was by her side. Born March 14, 1926 in Northboro, MA, she was the daughter of the late Emery and Anna (Bigelow) Fellows. Persis has lived in S. Attleboro since 1999, previously residing in Tolland, CT for over 50 years; she was a survivor of the Hartford Circus Fire of 6 July 1944. Persis worked since she was 16 years of age in numerous jobs, including making tracer bullets during the War. Her final positions included Lift-All in Vernon, CT where she sewed industrial slings before retiring in 1993. She was also employed at King-Fisher in Tolland, CT for many years. Persis was predeceased by her husband John A. Rickes in 1962 and will be missed by her five children: Mary A. Martin, Saint Albans, ME; Sandra L. Bonan, Port St. Lucie, FL; Persis C. Rickes, Foxboro, MA; Rory B. Rickes, Prescot City, CT; and Monica C. Meyerhoff with whom she lived, as well as her beloved dog, Roscoe. She is survived by a sister, Ruby B. Ridgway of Camano Island, WA; two brothers, Emery B. Fellows of Danville, VT, and Walter B. Fellows of Sebastian, FL. In addition, she leaves behind six grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and numerous nephews and great nieces and nephews as well as an untold number of foster children to whom she opened her home. A service of remembrance will be held Monday at 12:00 p.m. at the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home, 1475 N. Main St., followed by burial in Oak Knoll Cemetery, also in Palmer. Visitation will precede the service from 10:00-12:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made on her behalf to either the Disabled American Veterans PO Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH or the Friends of the Attleboro Animal Shelter PO Box 592, Attleboro, MA 02703. "