Published in the August 17, 2018 edition
MELROSE — Phyllis Audrey Alves Powers, 88, died peacefully August 13, 2018 surrounded by her nine children, many of their spouses and her cherished grandchildren.
Phyllis was born April 21, 1930 to Alfred Enos Alves and Helen O’Donnell Alves. Phyllis was one of eight children and was the beloved sister of Eugene Francis, Edward Joseph, Theodore Peter “Teddy,” Kenneth, Claire Alves Fell, Lorraine Alves Agostino and Eleanor Alves Donovan.
She was the cherished wife of Andrew Kenneth “Kenny” Powers whom she met at Medford High School and married September 6, 1952. Kenny was the love of her life and left us all too soon on April 19,1986.
Phyllis attended nursing school at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and graduated in the top of her class. She worked full time as a nurse at various hospitals while raising her nine children and worked at Spaulding Rehab as a visiting nurse well into her seventies serving patients in Chelsea and East Boston.
Phyllis leaves her nine children. Her son Andrew Kenneth, wife Jean Masiello Powers and their children Natalie Casey and Kenny Powers as well as great- grandchildren Kyla and Colin Casey; daughter Mary Beth Abbott, husband Larry, children Kelly Abbott and Melissa Cucciniello and great-grandchildren Sienna and Joey Cucciiniello and Matty Papagikos; son Paul Joseph, wife Anette Holmberg Powers, children Dawn Paulsen and Chris Powers; daughter Debra Gould, her husband John and children Haley and Jack Gould; son Scott Francis, his wife Nancy Smith Powers and children Emily, Brian and Katie Powers; daughter Phyllis Powers, her husband Ned Philie and children Drew, Ali, Adam, Aidan and Austin Philie; daughter Lynne McCormack husband John and children James and Maggie McCormack ; son Kevin Michael, his wife Valerie Bogdan Powers and children Taylor and Kyle Powers; son Sean Michael, his wife Annie O’Doherty Powers and children Brendan, Sarah and John Powers.
Phyllis above all things loved her family. She put everyone else first and has left us all with a lasting legacy.
Special thanks to our sister Lynne McCormack who was a constant caregiver for our Mother at the end of her life.
Rest In Peace with our father.
Visitation will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose on Thursday, August 16 from 4-8 p.m. Please note funeral is on Saturday, August 18. Funeral procession from the Gately Funeral Home, on Saturday morning August 18 at 8:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Incarnation Church, 425 Upham St. Melrose at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. To leave an online message of condolence please visit gatelyfh.com.
