Carlene Ann Perfetto, 81, of Silver Bay died Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at Carefree Living. Carlene was born March 7, 1944 in Duluth to Nickolas and Emma (Lipinski) Perfetto. After graduating from William Kelley High School in 1962, she moved to Minneapolis the very next day. During her life she lived in Duluth, Finland, Two Harbors, the Minneapolis area, Los Angeles, CA, and settled in Silver Bay in December 1994. As a young lady she was employed at various places until January 1971 when she joined the Golden Valley, MN Dept. of Public Safety as a dispatcher until 1978, when she moved to Los Angeles. In California she served the Culver City Police Dept. until retiring in 1994. She was a dispatcher, Administration Bureau secretary, and finally Police Support Services Supervisor – a fancy name for the person responsible for building and grounds maintenance, and who, after product specifications are done, researches prices, vendors and finalizes purchases for everything used by the department from pencils to police cars. Returning to Silver Bay, she worked for eight years for the VFW Post 6204 selling pull tabs, another eight years as night auditor at Cove Point Lodge, and four years for GSSC at Northshore Mining’s main gate.
The citizens of Silver Bay elected her five times to serve on the city council, which she did with dedication and zeal, also serving on various boards and committees and area-wide organizations. She was President of the VFW Auxiliary 6204 for ten years and served on the Board of Directors of the Finland, MN Historical Society, and as its Secretary until 2013.
Carlene was preceded in death by her parents; a half-brother, Richard Bergman; a niece O’Ann Decaro; and a sister-in-law, Val Perfetto.
She is survived by her brothers, Douglas who she nicknamed “Budge” and his wife, Terri, and Jim and David; nephews, Todd (Brenda Port) Perfetto, Joseph (Kim) Perfetto; nieces, Wendy (Jeff) Tucker, Jaimey (Joe) Garwood; Richard’s family – Ricky, Tim, Kathy, Lori, and Debbie and their families. Her favorite family staying was “I missed out on seeing my nephews and nieces growing up, I’ll be damned if I will miss out on the next generation” – Samantha, Alexis, Nickolas, McKenna, Timothy, Abbigail, Amira and Joseph; and the next generation following, Brody….. Carlene was often chastised for spoiling those on the last two lists – too bad moms and dads – “Auntie rules”!
Visitation will be from 9 AM until the 10 AM service on Friday, October 3, 2025 at Sychar Lutheran Church in Silver Bay. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth.
Carlene’s family would like to thank the staff of Carefree Living and more recently, Moments Hospice for the excellent care they provided to “Auntie”.
To share a memory or leave an online condolence visit www.cavallinfuneralhome.com.
