1923
Patricia
2016
Patricia M. (Barker) Powell
August 20, 1923 — November 15, 2016
Waltham – There's an old adage that says "God could not be everywhere, so he created Mothers" . . .
Patricia Mara (Barker) Powell, a longtime resident of Waltham, died peacefully at home on Tuesday November 15, 2016 with her family by her side. She was born in Bloemhof, South Africa on August 20, 1923, a daughter of the late Michael and Ellen (Warwick) Barker. She and her late husband, Edward "Jimmy" Powell, raised their four children in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Widowed at a young age, Patricia took on enormous responsibilities and experienced many hardships but with fierce determination faced them head on. She was an extraordinary woman of character, strength and determination. During the civil war in what was then Rhodesia, Patricia uprooted her family and moved back to her native South Africa where she became a successful woman in business.
She was an inspiration to her children, extended family and to all those who knew her. Patricia moved to America at the age of 63 with her beloved last remaining sibling Oona Pauline Nunes to start another chapter in her adventurous life. Ever productive, she assisted her sons in the family business and later worked for Walgreens in Waltham until the age of 93.
Patricia was an avid gardener, enjoyed family and friends from all over the world and cherished her summers in her gazebo surrounded by her flowers, children and grandchildren.
Patricia is survived by her loving sons, Brian Powell and his wife, Anne Powell, of Port St. Stephens, Australia, Patrick Powell and his wife, Linda Hanley Powell, of Waltham, Michael Powell and his life partner, Veronica Stephens, of Brockton, her most precious and loving daughter, Dawn Bagg, of Johannesburg, South Africa; her niece, Val Hall of Williamsburg, Virginia who was very much like a daughter to her and her husband John Hall who was like a son; her grandchildren, Maggie Prins Vergottini of Mosselbaai, South Africa, Mervin Bagg and his wife, Lara Bagg, of Johannesburg, South Africa, Jason Bagg and his partner, Cindy Martens, of Johannesburg, South Africa, Jessica Powell of Waltham, and Eric Powell and his wife Yan Zhuang of Waltham; her great-grandchildren, Calais Bagg of Johannesburg, South Africa and Lily Q. Powell of Waltham; her son-in-law, David Bagg of Johannesburg, South Africa and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends in the United States and around the world.
Funeral services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice, 800 W. Cummings Park, Woburn, MA 01801.
Patricia Mara (Barker) Powell, a longtime resident of Waltham, died peacefully at home on Tuesday November 15, 2016 with her family by her side. She was born in Bloemhof, South Africa on August 20, 1923, a daughter of the late Michael and Ellen (Warwick) Barker. She and her late husband, Edward "Jimmy" Powell, raised their four children in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Widowed at a young age, Patricia took on enormous responsibilities and experienced many hardships but with fierce determination faced them head on. She was an extraordinary woman of character, strength and determination. During the civil war in what was then Rhodesia, Patricia uprooted her family and moved back to her native South Africa where she became a successful woman in business.
She was an inspiration to her children, extended family and to all those who knew her. Patricia moved to America at the age of 63 with her beloved last remaining sibling Oona Pauline Nunes to start another chapter in her adventurous life. Ever productive, she assisted her sons in the family business and later worked for Walgreens in Waltham until the age of 93.
Patricia was an avid gardener, enjoyed family and friends from all over the world and cherished her summers in her gazebo surrounded by her flowers, children and grandchildren.
Patricia is survived by her loving sons, Brian Powell and his wife, Anne Powell, of Port St. Stephens, Australia, Patrick Powell and his wife, Linda Hanley Powell, of Waltham, Michael Powell and his life partner, Veronica Stephens, of Brockton, her most precious and loving daughter, Dawn Bagg, of Johannesburg, South Africa; her niece, Val Hall of Williamsburg, Virginia who was very much like a daughter to her and her husband John Hall who was like a son; her grandchildren, Maggie Prins Vergottini of Mosselbaai, South Africa, Mervin Bagg and his wife, Lara Bagg, of Johannesburg, South Africa, Jason Bagg and his partner, Cindy Martens, of Johannesburg, South Africa, Jessica Powell of Waltham, and Eric Powell and his wife Yan Zhuang of Waltham; her great-grandchildren, Calais Bagg of Johannesburg, South Africa and Lily Q. Powell of Waltham; her son-in-law, David Bagg of Johannesburg, South Africa and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends in the United States and around the world.
Funeral services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice, 800 W. Cummings Park, Woburn, MA 01801.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Patricia M. (Barker) Powell, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors