Mary F. Powers

Mary Frances Powers, 101, died at St. Mary's Hospital in Green Bay, WI on April 18, 2025. She was born in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on February 7, 1924, to John and Ruby (Wolff) Vaughan. Mary grew up in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois. She married Franklin J. Powers on March 12, 1947. They had three sons, Dennis, Stephen, and Doug, and a daughter Martha, who passed at birth.
Mary had a long and active life with her family. She enjoyed road trips with Frank and the boys when they were younger. She spent many years as a homemaker. She also had various jobs as store clerk, waitress, Tupperware Lady, and the list goes on. Her true passion, however, was for children. She and Frank welcomed foster kids into their home as well as providing daycare for little ones. After retirement, she and Frank went on the road in a motor home and toured the United States together making many friends along the way. When they came off the road, Frank and Mary moved to Nicolet Highlands. There they made many more friends. Some of those friends helped her be able to live independently till her last days. She referred to these friends as her "special angels".
Mary was a lifelong member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Illinois and displayed her patriotism proudly. She loved Jesus and was active at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Howard. There she was involved in many ministries over the years. In her final days, Mary's granddaughter Alicia asked her, "In all your 101 years of life, what would be the one piece of advice that you would pass down?" Mary answered, "Forgive people who have wronged you, and if you cannot ask them for forgiveness, then ask God to forgive them for you." Hours before she died, she mouthed the Lord's Prayer along with loved ones. Jesus tells us in that prayer, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Matthew 6:12). Words to live by.
Mary is survived by her daughter-in-law, Betty Powers; sons, Stephen (Donna) Powers, Doug Powers; grandchildren, John (Stephanie) Powers, Heather (Jim) Leckey, Jennifer (Paul) Hooyman, Joel (Susan) Powers, Alicia (Don) Heesacker, Sara (Kevin) Dillon, Garrett (Megan) Krueger-Oeth, Clarice Powers, and Brianna (Jon) Powvens; 18 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren, and many, many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband and best friend Frank Powers, daughter Martha Powers, son Dennis Powers, granddaughter Angela Powers, and great grandchildren Oscar and Bella Powvens.
Family and friends may gather at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2597 Glendale Avenue, Green Bay, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12:00 p.m. with Fr. James Lucas officiating. Private burial to follow at the Cemetery of the Holy Sepulcher of St. John the Baptist. A funeral livestream will be available on the St. John the Baptist Facebook Page - facebook.com/sjbhparish