Perina M. Tassini, a resident of Ossining, passed away Monday, December 10, 2012. Perina was born in Briarcliff on September 13, 1931 and was the daughter of Guiseppi and Incoronato Pizzirusso. She was 81.
Perina was a lifelong resident of the area. She attended Ossining schools from kindergarten through high school, and was a proud graduate of the class of 1950. The daughter of immigrants who did not speak English, Perina was determined to further her education. She worked to put herself through nursing school and attended Westchester School of Nursing at Grasslands Hospital, Valhalla, NY, where she received her certification as a Registered Nurse in 1953. She also attended Pace University, where she took school nursing courses. She married Frank Tassini on October 21, 1957. He predeceased her on March 21, 2007 (7 months shy of their 50th wedding anniversary. Perina worked as an operating room nurse at Grasslands Hospital for five years. She took time off to raise her children
Returning to work, she first substituted as a school nurse in the Ossining school system. In 1969 she was hired as a nurse at OHS where she worked for 32 years, retiring in 2001. In 2007 Perina was inducted into the OHS Athletic Hall of Fame for her commitment to the OHS Athletic Program and her help and guidance with not only the athletes, but the athletic director’s and all the team coaches as well.
Perina was also very active locally. She was still a member of St. Ann’s Parish, where she volunteered in various capacities for many years. She served as a VP of the St. Ann’s School PTA when her children were young and also as a Girl Scout leader. She was a past president of the Sisters of the Sick and Poor Auxiliary. She was an active member of the Ossining Business and Professional Women and is an Honorary Board Member of the Ossining Historical Society.
For the past three years Perina resided at Bethel Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Croton.
Perina is survived by her daughter Marie Tassini-Ceccatti and husband Richard, of Croton; her son Peter, and wife Margaret, of Syracuse; her three grandchildren, Peter Tassini, Jr., Sarah Tassini, and Marianna Ceccatti.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, 2-4 and 7-9 pm at Dorsey Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 am at St. Ann’s Church, 25 Eastern Ave., Ossining, NY (914) 941-2556. Interment St. Augustine’s Cemetery.
