Josephine H. Powers

FUNERAL HOME

Chapman Funerals & Cremations - Falmouth

475 Main Street (Route 28)

Falmouth, Massachusetts

Josephine Powers Obituary

Of Falmouth, formerly of East Boston, January 25. Beloved wife of the late John J. Powers of 39 years. Devoted mother of John J. Powers Jr. & his wife Dale of North Falmouth & Charles M. Powers and his wife Elaine, of Cheshire CT. Loving grandmother of Kathleen Powers, Bree and Brett Powers and Len and Scott Marmitt. Sister-in-law of Janet Mellon of Amesbury. Sister of the late Albin Mellon, the late Jenny Anduka, the late Alice Durant and the late Henry Milinkevich, all formerly of Nashua NH. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Dear friend of Adrienne Downey of Watertown and Winifred Murry of Somerville. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Tuesday, January 28th at 10:00 A.M. in the St. Patrick's Church, Main Street (Route 28), Falmouth. Visiting Hours will take place on Monday from 5-8 P.M. in the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, FALMOUTH, MA 02540 Burial will be Private in the St. Stanislaus Cemetery, Nashua, NH. Donations may be made to the Women's Health Resource Center & Healthcare Foundations for the Falmouth Hospital, 350 Gifford Street. Falmouth, MA 02540 For online guest book, obituary & directions visit www.ccgfuneralhome.com

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Published by Boston Globe on Jan. 26, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for Josephine Powers

2 Entries

Bob Johnston

February 4, 2003

John and Dale

Mary and I want to express our heartfelt sympathy for the passing of your mother, John, and your mother-in-law, Dale.

Having read the eulogy, she sounded like she was a wonderful human being who will be sorely missed.

Love,

Mary & Rub

January 30, 2003

REFLECTIONS ON “JO”

The most loving and devoted mother –the proudest grandmother, the best friend, and the most kindly neighbor and most selfless person we ever knew.

Jo loved life & traveled the world.

Jo loved her family and cooked them her famous chicken soup and traditional Kupusta.

Jo loved her manhattans, which according to her, were the best!

After all, she always said that “you can’t fly on one wing”.

After many years living in East Boston and tending to her roses, she found much joy in her move to Falmouth, and much frustration tending to her skimpy tomato plants and flowerless lilacs.

As most know, Jo cherished her years in East Boston, but once her home was destroyed by fire, she felt that she had found the most perfect place to live in Falmouth at the age of 82.

She took the Town by storm, joining the local bowling league.

Her neighbors, Peg R. (in her 90’s) and Peg N. (in her 70’s) were introduced to Jo’s manhattans and they considered themselves the “Golden Girls” of Falmouth relaxing on Jo’s deck with their cocktails.

Jo loved Nantucket.

I was introduced to her best friends from the telephone company, Winnie and Adrienne, on a visit to Adrienne’s home on Nantucket. Dale and John had just become engaged and the ladies surprised us with a celebratory bottle of Dom Perignon on the deck overlooking the ocean. The gals were not only fond of each other, but of each other’s joy in life. Jo, Adrienne and Winnie were known as the three musketeers and reveled in telling their world wide travels.

I was first introduced to Jo on a “Boston Bruins Celebrity” cruise to Bermuda. She proved quite the “party gal” and had as much fun as we did on the cruise.

Jo’s best friend, her husband John, passed away in 1983. John was an “Army” man & they married in 1944, following her stint as a fork lift operator at the Boston Navy Yard moving munitions onto ships. She and John made their home in East Boston and she was a stay-at-home Mom until her beloved boys reached 10 years of age and entered Boston Latin School.

Education of her sons was a priority and she went to work at Patten’s Restaurant at that time. Because of her hard work, her sons were able to attend and graduate college. Charles “also known as Chuck”, and “Charlie” in Massachusetts graduated from Harvard University and John from Suffolk University. She was pretty darn proud of her sons and their accomplishments.

The Cape house has been a happy home and gathering spot for many joyous family occasions. Her grandchildren, Katy, Brett, Bree, Lenny & Scott enjoyed many of Grandma Jo’s traditional holiday meals.

She was particularly fond of the Dale & John wedding video – she watched it every day and cried every day. She would often invite you to watch it with her – sorry John & Dale – but most of us declined the invite.

In this past year, she enjoyed her trip to New York to see "Live with Regis and Kelly" (which she watched every day) and was thrilled that Kelly was looking for her to say "hello".

As a friend, I want to say to John Jr., Dale, Chuck, Elaine, Katy, Brett, Bree, Lenny, Scott, Winnie, Adrienne, Peg N., and most recently the late Peg R., and to all of her extended family and friends…

Please understand that your beloved Jo rests in peace with a smile on her face with her loving husband John. She has a manhattan in her hand and the love for all of you in her heart.

Eulogy read by Bobbi M.

St. Patrick's Church

January 28, 2003