Obituary of Joy Powers

Joy (née Whalen) Powers June 9, 1936 – September 29, 2025 Born in South Buffalo, New York, Joy was the daughter of the late Gerald and Mary (née Cleary) Whalen and the beloved wife of the late Thomas Powers. She was the mother of Mary Powers (Gerald Igoe) and the grandmother of Matthew Igoe, cherished by both. She was predeceased by her siblings Margaret “Peg” (Raymond) Sullivan, Gerald (Helen) Whalen, and Thomas “Whipper” (Peg) Whalen, and was the sister-in-law of the late Richard (Mary) Powers. She will be remembered as a devoted aunt, great-aunt, and great-great-aunt to many. Joy maintained enduring bonds with friends—some for over seventy years—who both predecease and survive her. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. “Joy” was fully expressive of the person she was: she lived it and shared it through her unfailing humor and her gift for making friends, family, and strangers alike feel loved and valued in the bright, utterly charming way that was characteristically hers. Even as dementia took away much of her ability to express herself, “I love you” remained always on her lips. She leaves a lasting legacy of love among all who will smile at her memory.