Portia Ann (Schiller) Perl, 91, died peacefully on December 24, 2020 surrounded by her loving family.
She was born June 3, 1929 in Mansfield, Ohio to the late Dr. Stanley Schiller and Marie (Bergman) Schiller. The pig-tailed tomboy of Parkwood Boulevard thoroughly enjoyed growing up in Mansfield. She would frequently ride her bicycle all over town, swim in the summer and ice skate in the winter at North Lake Park, play any sport with a ball and enjoyed being with her neighborhood friends from dawn to dusk. She gained a love for outdoor adventures and traveling at a young age. One of her fondest memories was going with her father to the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York. She also loved learning how to cook from her mother, Marie.
In 1947 she was a proud graduate of the T-Y Tygers of Mansfield Senior High. She excelled in art and English and spoke highly of several of her teachers who made an impact on her life.
In 1951 Portia graduated from Seton Hill College in Greensburg, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In addition to being a Water Safety Instructor for the American Red Cross (40+ years), her first job after college was in the advertising department at Sears making .50 cents an hour. In 1977-1979, Portia returned to college (Ashland University) and earned a Masters degree in Education. Portia taught elementary children for the Madison School District, art at Mansfield St. Peter High School and technical writing and communications for several years at North Central Technical College.
Always one to appreciate theater, Portia frequented programs at the Mansfield Playhouse. A handsome gentleman who helped build the sets and who kept a corncob pipe in his back pocket caught her eye on more than one occasion. After several dates and a few years later, Portia married the love of her life, Roger O. Perl on April 7, 1956. Their bond was like no other. Their marriage exemplified everything that a loving, long-lasting union should be. They were blessed with 52 years of marriage before Roger’s death June 19, 2008.
Together they raised seven children. Portia would frequently sew new outfits for all her children. Sundays were busy doing up to as many as seventeen loads of laundry. Each night there was always an amazing dinner as she was a fabulous cook. Bike rides, hiking, swimming, and winter picnics were common activities done as a family. An animal lover, there was always a menagerie of dogs and cats to also love and cherish, most recently her beloved Eddie and Mollie Two. Church on Sundays was never missed. Portia was a long-time member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church.
Portia is survived by her three sons, David (Debra) of Colorado, Daniel (Patricia) of Ohio and Timothy of Missouri; Four daughters Ann (Paul) Kitchen of New Hampshire, Elise (Scott) Kochheiser of Illinois, Carolyn (Jerry) Zajack of Ohio and Claudia (Gary) Raff of Ohio; Eight grandchildren, Andrew (Nikki) Kepple, Jacob (Lauren) Perl, Jesse (Dylan) Kitchen, Jason Kitchen, Benjamen (Jessica) Kochheiser, Noel Kochheiser, Laura Stephens and Emily Raff; Four great-grandchildren, William and Drew Kepple, Isabel and Abigail Kochheiser and Baby Boy Perl due in March 2021. Portia is also survived by her older brother, David Schiller, of Pennsylvania and many nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her sister, Elaine (Albert) Voegele, niece Cecelia Voegele and son-in-law, Sean Stephens.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 56 N. Mulberry Street, Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 11:00 am with Rev. Gregory Hite officiating. The Mass will be livestreamed via the church’s facebook page. Friends may visit the family from 10-11am that day at the church prior to the Mass. Interment will be in Mansfield Catholic Cemetery immediately following. A memorial celebration will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Peter Scholarship Fund, Richland County Dog Pound or Food For The Poor, Inc.
“God will watch over us when we are apart” (Genesis 31:49 Mizpah).
Herlihy Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
