Nancy A. Powers

Nancy A. Powers, of Fairview Heights, IL, born on February 6, 1932, in Chicago, IL, passed on this life to the next on October 4, 2024. You can do the math on her age because she would not want us to print it.

Nancy was born the middle of three daughters to Michael J. “Joe” and Mary Ellen Shanley, nee McGloin, in Chicago, IL. She was a 1949 graduate of Loretto Academy on the city of Chicago’s South Side. She was proud of her first generation, Irish American heritage, but then, who wouldn’t be?

Nancy met the love of her life while working in the offices of Glidden Paint. Jim worked on the docks. Peter J. “Jim” Powers, Jr. married her on June 19,1954. Because Jim was by then in the Air Force, the two of them embarked on a 24-year adventure being stationed all over the country and twice in Japan. During this time, Nancy furthered her love of art by becoming an accomplished painter and working with ceramics. She was also very involved in the Wives Club at all of their duty stations.

Nancy and Jim adopted Tom and Erin in 1965 and 1967, respectively. Their last duty station was at Scott A.F.B. near Belleville, IL. When Jim retired from the Air Force and Tom and Erin graduated from high school, Nancy went to work for Weight Watchers as a lead receptionist for nearly 30 years.

Through her entire life, Nancy was a faithful Catholic. She and the family were members of many parishes through all of their travels over the years. More recently, they were members of the former St. Albert the Great Parish and are current members of Holy Trinity Parish in Fairview Heights. Nancy spent countless hours volunteering in St. Albert’s lunchroom, serving on the Athletic Association, and as a room mother.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lt. Col. (Ret) Peter J. “Jim” Powers, Jr.; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary (Shanley) and Ray Montag, and Rita “Jean” (Shanley) and Charlie Akai; her mother-in-law Mary “Mamie” Drugan; her nephews Michael Montag and David Akai; her “aunt” Elizabeth “Betty” Schaik; and numerous members of the Shanley, McGloin, Curran, and Duran families.

Left to carry on her legacy are her son and daughter-in-law Deacon Tom and Sandee, nee Schey, Powers; her daughter and son-in-law Erin, nee Powers, and Terry Bowman; her grandchildren Samantha (Powers) Dunn, Maxwell Powers, Devin White, and Shannon White; her great-granddaughter, Astoria Dunn; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to those who helped make Nancy’s last year with us the best it could be, the caregivers of Right at Home, the staff of Reflections at the Villas of Holly Brook in Collinsville, and Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Memorials may be made to Holy Trinity Building Fund, Camp Ondessonk, or Boy’s Town.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at Kassly Mortuary, Ltd., Fairview Heights, IL.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fairview Heights, IL. Interment will follow at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Nancy A. Powers, please visit our floral store.