Sheila (Shea) Powers Obituary

#Middlebury #Obituary

Sheila (Shea) Powers of Middlebury died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at The Villa at Watermark in Southbury after a long illness. She was the wife of Leon F. Powers Jr.

Sheila was born June 9, 1937, in Waterbury, a daughter of the late Dr. Vincent T. and Helen (Scully) Shea. She attended Laurelton Hall School in Milford, Connecticut, and graduated from Mary A. Burnham School in Northampton, Massachusetts and Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York in 1959.

Sheila was a member of the Middlebury Garden Club and held the position as judge for Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut. Her volunteer work with the Middlebury Greenway Committee started in 2006. Along with her passion for gardening and flower arranging, she enjoyed working on crossword puzzles and playing bridge and she had a special love for all animals. She was a communicant of St. John of the Cross Church in Middlebury.

Besides her husband, Lee, of 60 years, Sheila is survived by her son, Timothy S. Powers and his wife, Susan, of Middlebury; her daughter, Sheila M. Powers of Middlebury; and her grandchildren, Mikayla, Griffin and Zachary Powers of Middlebury who loved their “Amie.” Additionally, she leaves behind her siblings, Rosemary S. Petruzzi and her husband, Len, of Woodbury; Dr. V. Timothy Shea and his wife, Judy, of Woodbury; David S. Shea and his wife, Kathi, of Wolcott; attorney Paul J. Shea and his wife, Heidi, of Middlebury; Dr. Richard J. Shea and his wife, Sally, of Watertown; Helen S. Chittum and her husband, Jay, of Woodbury; and Tara S. Gryga and her husband, Phil, of Wolcott. Also, her brother-in-law, Leonard F. Genovese of Southbury; sister-in-law, Dorothy Palomba of Watertown; and several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews near and far.

Sheila was predeceased by her son, Leon F. Powers III, and her sister, Colleen S. Genovese.

Sheila and her entire family extend a huge and special thank you to her loving, dependable and kind caregivers.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, at 10 a.m. at St. John of the Cross Church at 1263 West St. in Middlebury. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will be private. The Murphy Funeral Home at 115 Willow St. in Waterbury is in charge of the arrangements.

In memory of Sheila, donations may be sent to the Middlebury Food Pantry, 1172 Whittemore Road, Middlebury, CT 06762 and St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Waterbury, P.O. Box 1612, Waterbury, CT 06721

Visit www.murphyfuneralhomect.com for more information or to send an online condolence.