Antonia ‘Joya’ Marie Perna: P.C. teacher’s aide

December 12, 2024 at 1:56 a.m.

Antonia “Joya” Marie Perna, 77, a lifelong resident of Port Chester, died unexpectedly Dec. 8, 2024.

She was born Feb. 1, 1947 in Port Chester to Salvatore and Florence Bellantoni Verrastro, who predeceased her, and was raised and educated in Port Chester, graduating from Port Chester High School in 1965.

Joya was married on Sept. 5, 1971 in Port Chester to Frank M. Perna, and they remained together for 44 years until his death on June 23, 2016.

She was a beloved teacher's aide for many years in the Port Chester Public Schools, and she dedicated herself to enriching the lives of scores of Special Education students at Port Chester Middle School and Port Chester High School.

Mrs. Perna was a parishioner of the Parish of Saint John Bosco (formerly Our Lady of Mercy) in Port Chester, and she will be remembered as a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and faithful friend whose boundless kindness, love, and generosity touched many in her community.

She is survived by her children, Frank M. Perna II (wife Toni) of Custer City, Okla., Christopher Perna (wife Yvonne) of Cortlandt Manor, Kelly Ann Sheehy (husband Paul) of Amityville, N.Y. and Jacqueline Patino (husband Luis) of Mount Vernon; her grandchildren Frank, Janea, and Thomas; her sisters Angela Armstrong of Fairfield, Conn., Katherine Sammons of Cordova, Tenn. and Sally Ann Petrina of Mount Kisco and sister-in-law Annette Verrastro of Rye Brook.

She was predeceased by her brother, Dominick Verrastro.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Fri., Dec. 13 at Craft Memorial Home, 40 Leicester St., Port Chester, followed by interment at Greenwood Union Cemetery, North Street, Rye.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in her honor may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation.

Condolences to the family may be left at www.craftmemorialhome.com