Dorothy "DeeDee" (Perkins) Fraser

Mrs. Dorothy Perkins Fraser, “DeeDee”, died peacefully at home, Monday evening, March 27, 2023.

DeeDee was born in South Orange, NJ on October 16, 1935, the daughter of George F. Perkins, III and Dorothy Bennett Perkins.

She was raised in Short Hills, NJ and in Lee, MA at her family's farm, Brookside Farm.

After earning her associate degree from Bradford College, she married Peter D. Fraser on Sept. 8, 1956.  While he was in the Air Force, they lived in Mississippi, Arizona, and Wisconsin, before settling in Lee.  It was Lee that became home and where she raised their family, along with chickens, horses, and many dogs and cats.  She loved maple syruping each spring and also enjoyed gardening, playing tennis, hunting, snowmobiling, and sewing.  

Baseball was a family rivalry – she loved the Yankees, then later, the Red Sox.

Spending time at the Hollywood Club in the Adirondacks was an important part of her childhood and adult life, as well as music – playing banjo, listening to John Denver, or singing with friends at the Berkshire Choral Institute.

In the late 70s and 80s, she owned/operated Nutkin Nursery School in Lee.  DeeDee was a contributing member of the Junior League, Recording for the Blind, Girl Scouts, Lee Historical Commission, Lee Library, Lee Land Trust and the Jacob Ladder Trail Association. She also served as town representative for several years. She was a member and past treasurer of the Lee Congregational Church.

Mrs. Fraser leaves behind her son, David Fraser and his fiancée, Jennifer Rodgers; her four daughters: Susan Sullivan, Sandra Stasco, Diane Kend, and Laura Betz; her 13 grandchildren: Allan Sullivan, D. Shane Sullivan, Andrew Stasco, Arin Stasco, Dale Stasco, Amanda Dean, Anna Mosley, Mary Emma Cox, Meagan Fraser, Thomas Fraser, Carolyn Betz, Jessie Betz, and Alyassa Kend; and her three great-granddaughters: Mallory Sullivan, Harper Dean, and Madelyn Mosley. In addition, DeeDee leaves her sons-in-law: William (Mac), Nathan, and Robert; her daughters-in-law: Tracy and Christine; as well as several nieces and nephews.

Besides her parents, DeeDee was predeceased by her husband, Peter D. Fraser, Sr., her son, Peter D. Fraser, Jr., her granddaughter, Eden V. Kend, her sister, Virginia Fraser, and her son-in-law, Daniel Sullivan.

The family would like to thank Dr. Hornstein, Dr. Campion, Amedysis, Hospice, and her wonderful caregivers for all their help.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Dorothy P. Fraser will be held on Thursday, April 6, 2023, 11AM at the First Congregational Church in Lee. Burial will follow in Fairmount Cemetery. Visiting Hours will be held Wednesday, April 5, 3:30-6PM at the Kelly Funeral Home in Lee.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mrs. Fraser’s memory are suggested to either the First Congregational Church of Lee or the Lee Land Trust, in care of the Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main St., Lee, MA 01238.