Laquita Joy Perry

Laquita Joy Perry

Registered Nurse and Educator

Laquita Joy Perry of Reading, long time resident of Stoneham, died on December 11, 2022 at the age of 92.  Laquita graduated from Malden Hospital School of Nursing.  Laquita was a registered obstetrical nurse and worked at many different hospitals throughout her career including St. Margaret’s Hospital, Providence Hospital for Women, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital and Hunt Hospital and was an educator at the Malden Hospital School of Nursing.  She also attended Curry College and vigorously pursued continuing education throughout her nursing career.  Laquita was very proud to be a nurse.  As a nurse, she worked in the maternity department and spoke fondly of the many babies she had helped bring into the world.  She loved to line dance, two-step dance, polka and dabbled in Disco and was fond of country western music.  She also lived in New Hampshire and at that time enjoyed biking, golfing, and skiing some of these activities she carried well into her 70’s.  While in New Hampshire she owned horses and enjoyed riding and caring for them.  She enjoyed visiting Florida and loved chocolate and animals, especially several dogs.

Laquita was born in Northumberland, New Hampshire.  She was predeceased by her parents, Willard DeLong and Irene M. LeClaire; her brother Ronald E. DeLong; and her half-brothers David DeLong and Joseph DeLong.  She is survived by her niece, Julie Hermes of New Berlin, IL, daughter of her brother, the late Ronald E. DeLong of Illinois, and her half-siblings Patricia Oxley of Jacksonville, IL and John DeLong of Jacksonville IL  Laquita is also predeceased by her cousin, Everdene P. Kirkpatrick, who she often referred to as her sister.

She is also survived by her friends, Maureen E. Houghton of Stoneham, Massachusetts; Deborah Hanly of Peabody, Massachusetts; and Lynda Bedard of Florida.

The friends of Laquita have chosen to respect her wishes to conduct a private memorial service.  Donations in Laquita’s memory may be made to the Massachusetts Alzheimers Disease Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Building 114, Suite 2011, 16 ^th Street, Charlestown, MA  02129.