Irene T Powers
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Irene Powers passed away peacefully on Jan 27 at the age of 97. A resident of Athens GA for 75 years she was married to Dr. John J Powers for 69 years until his death in 2014.
She is survived by oldest daughter Jennifer Kennedy (Giles) with grandchildren Abigail, Kathleen and William married to Caitlin with great-grandson John.
The middle son, John David (Heidi Pert) with grandchildren Beth and John.
Youngest son Mike (Janet Mitchell) with grandchildren Elizabeth, Sarah and Jessica married to Ty Beckom with great-grandson Wilson.
A son John Joseph died at birth.
Irene graduated from UMass Amherst where she married Dr. John J Powers in 1945 and moved to Athens in 1947 to start a family while John helped start a food technology program at UGA. She lived in Glenwood for over 50 years raising a family, traveling the world, collecting cookbooks and refinishing antiques on days she didn't play bridge with friends or work with St Mary's Auxilliary as a pink lady.
Short in stature, she was long in devotion to her friends and to her catholic faith at St Josephs. She talked openly about having lived a full and fulfilling life, and even in a few years of physical decline found joy in the memories of better years spent with friends and family.
A special thanks to caregivers at St Mary's hospice, Highland Hills, Magnolia and St Gabriel's who attended her needs. Thanks to the nurses from Christopher's Bridge who stayed with her daily and kept her safe through Covid. Despite that gruff exterior, she appreciated your efforts to comfort and support her.
Lord and Stephens provided cremation services for Irene and John and more details on their lives can be found at Lord and Stephens website. Due to Covid restrictions, a family service will take place on Feb 3 at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit Woodlands cemetery and in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the John J and Irene T Powers Scholarship fund through the UGA Foundation.
Lord & Stephens, West, Watkinsville, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com