Wendy I. Perry

Wendy Ingersoll Perry of Greenville, DE, passed away on Friday, September 4th, at the age of 79. Having grown up in Hockessin, DE, she attended Alexis I. du Pont High School and graduated from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts with a BA in Music Literature. Wendy was an accomplished pianist and award-winning published poet.

A devoted mother, Wendy nurtured a love of music in her three children from her first marriage to Joe Kelly of West Boylston, MA, shepherding them to countless lessons and extracurricular pursuits throughout Central Massachusetts. She channeled that same love of music into her community, teaching piano lessons, accompanying local theatre productions, and serving as musical director for others. She also organized book clubs and lent her energies to women’s organizations, such as the National Organization for Women and the Junior League of Worcester. In mid-life, she took up writing poetry as an additional creative outlet.

In 2002, after returning to her native Delaware, Wendy fell in love with J. Belmont Perry “Belmont” of North Carolina. They married in 2011 at her Chestertown, MD family farm, and shared many joyful years together. Their gatherings – both at the farm and at their beach houses in Rehoboth, DE, and Beach Haven, NJ – became something of an institution among their children, grandchildren, and extended family.

Over time, Wendy’s writing evolved from private practice into public accomplishment. She was widely published and honored, taking first prize in both the Delaware and National Federation of Press Women’s poetry contests in 2010. She took great pride in organizing women’s writing retreats and, with three colleagues, founded Quartet, a quarterly poetry publication. Her poetry often touched on the themes of family, grief and loss, and the redemption and solace found in the natural world.

In 2022, the Perrys adopted the Stonegates retirement community as their new home. Wendy joined the handbell choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church and became a familiar presence at the piano in the Stonegates pub on Friday evenings, playing for an audience of enthusiastic fellow residents.

Wendy treasured her family. Her five grandchildren held an especially cherished place in her heart. She delighted in their visits, their milestones, and simply being near them. She loved her community and her life and she will be missed beyond words.

Wendy is survived by her husband, J. Belmont Perry; her three children, Elizabeth Kelly of Wilmington, DE, Jean Kelly (James Pitaro) of Westport, CT, and James Kelly (Hadley Vargas) of Los Angeles, CA; and five beloved grandchildren. She also leaves her brothers Hank, Edward, and Richard Ingersoll, and her dear sister, Gail Sezna, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a wonderfully supportive community of friends.

A Celebration of Wendy’s Life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday November 28th at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1502 W. 13th St., Wilmington, DE 19806. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Sezna Foundation, established in memory of her nephews Deeg and Teddy Sezna, at PO Box 420, Rockland, DE 19732.