Camille Perugini

Prospect, CT Camille Perugini, 91, the widow of John Anthony Perugini, died peacefully on January 20, 2024 surrounded by her loving family.

Camille was born June 3, 1932 in Stamford, CT a daughter of the late Carl and Charlotte (Wilson) Boccuzzi. Camille attended Leavenworth High School; lived in Prospect for the past 55+ years and was the co-founder of Jesse Camille’s Restaurant in Naugatuck.

In her earlier years, before her children were born, she worked at the Undergarment, the Tronic and the Electromet. She became a stay-at-home Mom to her 2 daughters until they became teenagers. She then began working in the restaurant industry, first at her brother’s restaurant, The Hobbit House of Wolcott, then at the Red Bull Inn and Howard Johnson’s in Waterbury, before co-founding with her son in law, Larry Erickson, Jesse Camille’s Restaurant in Naugatuck.

Camille enjoyed vacationing in Cape Cod and especially loved her grandchildren, whom she babysat for many years, and when they became older, she loved making Wednesday night dinners for them. She spent her senior years traveling with her daughter and family, sipping Prosecco, listening to Frank Sinatra and watching cooking shows. She was a master cook and her meatballs are legendary. She had two Westies, Dumbo and Poppy, who were her loyal companions for many years.

Camille is survived by her daughter, Carla Perugini-Erickson and her husband, Larry Erickson of Prospect; her grandchildren, Jesse Erickson of Prospect, Michael Erickson of Waterbury, Carly Erickson of Boston, MA and Samantha Erickson of Prospect; her sister, Gloria Eureka of Wolcott; her brother in law, Donald Perugini of Martin, TN; many nieces and nephews and her loving friend, Gigi Patrizi. In addition to her husband and her parents, Camille was predeceased by her beloved daughter, Camille B. “Candy” Perugini; her siblings, Catherine Delgatti, Nicholas Boccuzzi and Carl Boccuzzi.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 11:30am at St. Anthony Church, 4 Union City Road, Prospect. Everyone attending is kindly asked to please meet directly at church. Burial will follow in New Pine Grove Cemetery, Waterbury. There are no calling hours and arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Camille’s memory, donations are requested to the Camille B. Perugini Charitable Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o P.O. Box 7299, Prospect, CT 06712.