Irene T Powers

Irene Helen Toyfair Powers passed away peacefully on Jan 27 at the age of 97. She was a resident of Athens GA for 75 years and was married to Dr. John J Powers for 69 years until his death in 2014.  Born Oct 7, 1923 in New Bedford, MA she was the daughter of Helen Glowaki and Wilfred Toyfair. Helen was a textiles supervisor and Wilfred was career military serving combat in Ww1, ww2, and Korea.

She is survived by her oldest daughter Jennifer (retired nurse) married to Giles Kennedy with grandchildren Abigail, Kathleen and William married to Caitlin with great grandson John.

Middle son, John David (retired) married to Heidi Pert with grandchildren Beth and John.

Youngest son Mike married to Janet Mitchell with grandchildren Elizabeth, Sarah and Jessica married to Ty Beckom with great-grandson Wilson.

A son John Joseph died at birth.

Irene attended U Mass Amherst studying food technology during ww2 where she met a like minded PhD candidate six years her senior. She graduated and then married Dr John J Powers in 1945 and moved south in 1947 to start a family while John helped start a food technology program at UGA.  She lived on North Ave in a rental during the 40s, bought a home on Oakland Ave near five points in 50’s, and finally settled in Bedgood/Glenwood about 1963 and stayed for over 50 years until she and John stubbornly moved into assisted living.

In those 75 years in Athens, besides raising a family, she accumulated hundreds of cookbooks, traveled the world, sewed her own clothes, refinished and upholstered furniture, stripped tongue and groove boards out of old houses and clipped grocery coupons as a thrifty and frugal child of the depression. She found time to finish a basement by herself hanging sheetrock and wall paper and she was quietly proud of her elaborate hand made doll houses featured in Athens Magazine. She was a pink lady at St Mary's Auxiliary over 50 years and served numerous roles from president to switchboard, coffee shop and thrift store hostess. She built many friendships and enjoyed hosting the annual fundraising ball finally retiring at age 90 when her eyesight started to fail. Her good friend Joan Tillitski was a constant companion at St Marys and to this day.

An avid bridge player, she developed bonds and friendships that lasted decades. She and Mrs. Tillitski are the last of the bridge group that numbered 16 or 20 different Athens ladies from the 60s to early 2000. Even after we took her driver's license, she found younger 70 something aged friends to carpool to bridge only stopping when she couldn't see her cards to bid.

Jennifer, John David, and Michael enjoyed the loving care and stern devotion of a mom who did it all.  She taught her children (and grandchildren) the importance of education and the honor that comes from hard work. 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. Family get togethers in a state park cabin and rousing political debate with the Brown Bag group at dinner with the Kanes, Noles, Tillitskis, Peckams and others were favorites. After one intense discussion one Saturday night, a visiting priest saw the group smiling and laughing together again on Sunday and commented it takes special people to share strong opinions and stay friends. Her friends were more important than any political or philosophical disagreements.

A special thanks to care givers at St Mary's hospice, Highland Hills, Magnolia and St Gabriel's who attended her needs as her body weakened. And thanks to the nurses from Christopher's Bridge who stayed with her daily last few years and kept her safe through Covid. Despite that gruff exterior, she appreciated your efforts to comfort and support her.

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