Maureen Patricia Powell (née Gillies). Born in Kamloops on March 7, 1933, she passed away peacefully on April 28, 2021, in her home surrounded by family. She is survived by her children, Kevin (Linda), Danny (Liana), Erin, Todd (Judy), Colleen (Kent), and Kellie (Craig). She also leaves behind fifteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, her sister Margaret, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
After graduating from Kamloops Senior Secondary School, she began working for the BC Forest Service. Shortly after, she met her future husband, Thomas Powell, who was a lacrosse-playing Trail boy. They married in October of 1954, then moved to Trail, and had four children before moving back to Kamloops. Once settled, Maureen started working again at the BC Forestry Service and went on to have three more children. She will always be remembered for her endless strength and love in looking after her family.
Her retirement years were spent with her husband, travelling and seeing different parts of Canada and the U.S. After her husband passed away, she was still up for adventure with her kids. White water rafting down the Thompson River, falling off sea-doos in the Shuswap, flying down alligator-infested waters on an airboat in New Orleans, touring around different parts of Texas, visiting the Grand Canyon and taking an old elevator shaft down into the deep pits of a mine in Arizona.
One of her favourite pastimes was that of caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was the centre of our universe and loved family gatherings either at her house, where we could admire her beautiful garden and flowers, or at Shuswap Lake, where she was surrounded by love and laughter.
She was ever so thankful to end her journey on this earth being cared for by those who loved her most.
