Paula Perkins

Stratham- Paula Perkins, of Stratham, NH, passed away peacefully at the age of 72 on Sunday, February 11, 2024. She was born on November 2, 1951, in Lawrence, MA, to the late Anthony and Elena (Venti) Ventrillo. To many, Paula was perhaps best known for her 34 years running the Dairy Queen on Portsmouth Avenue in Exeter, New Hampshire. A staple of the local community, Paula was there day and night, and became a familiar face to many throughout the Seacoast area. As a small business owner, Paula took great pride in her restaurant, and it showed in the excellent service she provided. She was also a caring employer who was very involved in her employees’ lives and gave much advice and support. To her family and friends, Paula was known as an unconditional supporter and someone who would give everything for those she cared about. Her willingness to listen and her compassion for all made her the beloved matriarch of her family. She always saw the best in others and encouraged them to be the best versions of themselves. In her free time, Paula was an avid cook and entertainer. Although a gifted cook in her own right, Paula was known for her love of cooking shows, including the Barefoot Contessa and the Great British Bake Off. She found incredible joy in cooking and serving challenging recipes to her friends and family at the holidays and year-round. Paula was the youngest of three children, and the first member of her family to graduate from college when she graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 1972. In 1980 she and her husband at the time, DeWitt Perkins, Jr., moved to Stratham, NH and acquired the Dairy Queen. Left to cherish her memory are her daughter Rebecca Perkins Kwoka and wife Katelyn of Portsmouth, and her son DeWitt Perkins III and wife Meredith of Atlanta, GA. She is also survived by her five grandchildren Holden Everett Perkins, James David Perkins, Logan Marie Kwoka, Colby Eva Kwoka, and Madison Page Kwoka, as well as her many cousins, nieces, and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by siblings Barbara Ann Payos and Ralph Anthony Ventrillo, and her long-time partner Geoffrey Brackett. Visiting hours will be held from 5-7 PM on Friday, February 16, 2024, at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. A service to celebrate Paula's life will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, February 17, in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute by clicking here..

Paula Perkins

November 2, 1951 - February 11, 2024