Obituary of Ellen Barbara Perrault 

Ellen Barbara Perrault 

January 18, 1924-December 14, 2021 

Ellen Barbara Perrault of Eden Prairie passed away peacefully surrounded by her beloved daughters on December 14, 2021 after a beautiful full life of almost 98 years. Born Ellen Barbara Petrich in Duluth, MN on January 18, 1924 to Eli and Barbara Petrich, Ellen began her life as the feisty eleventh of twelve children. Even as a young girl, she always knew her worth and no one was going to tell her what she could or couldn’t do. After graduating from Morgan Park High School, she attended business school and got an administrative job at the Coolerator Company where she caught the eye of Robert Perrault, who became the love of her life. She and “Dear Dear” were married October 6, 1951 and later welcomed three beautiful daughters who were her greatest joys. She devoted her life to her family. Whether she was throwing a fun yet sophisticated dinner party for friends, golfing at Minnetonka Country Club or in Naples, Florida where they retired, playing kick-the-can with her grandchildren, or playing hide-and-seek with her great grandchildren, Ellen was always stylish and made it a point to look her best. She was a Cryptoquip and Sudoku whiz and golfed well into her nineties. An especially beautiful golf trophy was one of her prized possessions, but truly her greatest passion in life was her family. She was a loving wife and mother, an adoring grandmother and great-grandmother and a joyful Aunty Beansie. She was love personified and her first instinct was always for others. She treasured her family and being near her always felt like comfort. Ellen had a zeal for life, a sharp wit, a great sense of humor, and a competitive spirit. Her legacy lives in the hearts of everyone who was lucky enough to know her. 

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband Robert, parents Eli and Barbara Petrich, brothers Mike, Nicholas, Steve, Pete, Daniel, William, Vance and George, sisters Ann, Mildred and Mary and son-in-law Alan Bates. She will be remembered and loved forever by her daughters JoEllen (Blake), Patti Ann (Mark), and Penny, her eleven grandchildren Zachary, Cortney, Whitney, Madison, Charlie Ann, Hunter, Sidney, Danika, Beau, Bentley, and Mitchell, her nine great grandchildren Ella, McEnroe, Ben, Briggs, Coby, Raegan, Lleyton, Roscoe, and Logan and her many nieces and nephews. 

A memorial service will be held on January 14, 2022 at Westwood Community Church in Excelsior, MN. There will be a visitation at 9:30 am followed by the service at 10:00. Her final resting at Fort Snelling National Cemetery will be arranged by the Cremation Society of Minnesota-Edina. Condolences and memorials can be sent to the family and will be donated as Ellen wished.