Ann Mahon Powers

Powers, Ann Mahon of Arlington, passed away peacefully at home on February 16th at the age of 92 surrounded by her family. Beloved wife of the late Frank L. Powers. Loving mother of Joanne Greene and her husband Bill Greene of North Easton, Janet Powers Cella and her husband Joseph Cella of Arlington, and Frank J. Powers and his wife Jodie Wilde of Arlington. Beloved grandmother of Daniel, Colin, Michael, and Megan Greene. Sister of John Mahon and his wife Ruth Mahon, and the late James Mahon and his wife Ann, Richard Mahon and surviving wife Mary Ann Mahon, Thomas Mahon and his wife Gael, and Joan Barry and her husband John M. Barry. Ann also leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews whom she adored.

Ann was the loving daughter of John Mahon of Bunclody, County Wexford, Ireland, and Catherine White Mahon of Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. She was born and raised in Arlington, attended Arlington public schools, and graduated from Arlington High School in 1951. She was later inducted into the Arlington High School Hall of Fame in 2002.

Ann started work as a clerk-stenographer in the Town Clerk's office in 1952. She attended night classes at Hickox Secretarial School and graduated in 1954. She was named Assistant Town Clerk in 1954 and in 1959, at the age of twenty-five, she was elected as Arlington's Town Clerk, one of the youngest Town Clerks in the state.

One of several announcements in the local town paper at that time wrote: "An attractive young woman defeated seven men for election as town clerk of Arlington yesterday…"., as well as, "Girl, 25, Scores Election Upset in Arlington." Ann held this position until 1968 when she retired to raise a family. In 1973 Ann was appointed to the Board of Selectmen (Selectboard) to fill an interim vacancy and was elected to the position in both 1975 and 1978, deciding not to seek re-election in 1981.

Given her love of her community and its town government Ann could not retire completely. She helped form the Instant Committee, a group of women who on local charitable and humanitarian projects. She joined Arlington Cable Access, volunteered at the Arlington Schools, and taught religious education at St. Eulalia's Parish. In 1984, Ann decided it was time to come out of retirement and was once again elected as the Town Clerk of Arlington. In her opening campaign remarks, she announced that due to her glasses and gray hair she couldn't be called the "girl" anymore. She topped the ballot, pulling in more votes than any other candidate. She took office the following Saturday and celebrated her 50th birthday by running a day long voter's registration. She retired for real in 1993 but could frequently be found back at the Arlington Town Hall visiting her friends and former co-workers, often with her grandchildren in tow who remember the place almost as fondly as she did.

While Ann achieved many milestones in her professional life, her legacy lies in the family she built. She poured her heart into being a devoted wife, proud mother, cherished grandmother, loving sister and aunt, and caring friend. She was always the neighborhood "bus driver" for fun trips - ice cream, drive-in movies, haunted houses, and so much more. Ann found more joy in family gatherings, and supporting her children and grandchildren, than in any award or accolade. And once she got on Instagram there was no stopping her; she kept herself updated on all the family and local happenings, responding and posting herself with all caps and lots of emojis.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit the DeVito Funeral Home, 1145 Mass. Ave., Arlington, on Friday 4:00 - 7:00pm. Funeral from the Devito Funeral Home on Saturday morning at 9:00am with a Funeral Home Service to commence at 10:30, burial to follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please be kind to the people you meet each day and make them feel as special as Ann tried to make each person she met.