EAST HAMPTON, Conn. and BUCKSPORT – Frederick Galen Powers, 77, formerly of Colchester, Conn. and East Hartford, Conn., went home to Heaven Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, at home, surrounded by his loving family after a long, courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Born April 1, 1928, in Prospect Harbor, he was a son of the late Otis and Edith (Seavey) Powers and was raised in Bucksport. In April of 1948, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving a five year tour during the Korean War on the USS Rochester CR124. On March 10, 1951, he wed the former Gertrude Pelletier at St. Ann Church in Fall River, Mass. They started their family, living in East Hartford and then settling in Colchester in 1969. Together, they shared 32 years of marriage before she predeceased him Nov. 11, 1983. Later, on Nov. 24, 1984, he wed the former Patricia (Sheltry) Bernier at St. Andrew Church in Colchester and blended both of their families. She survives him. Married for more than 20 years to Pat, he took pride in all of his children’s and grandchildren’s accomplishments. Fred retired from Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford after 33 years as a welder. He was an active parishioner at St. Patrick Church in East Hampton and took pleasure in serving the church as a Eucharistic Minister. Fred was known as the “Official” photographer, always having his camera in hand. He was ready, willing and able to capture any moment and many precious memories have been preserved because of his talent. Fred and Pat were avid square dancers. Over the years, Fred was a member of The C-Twirlers, Marlborough Squares and was a member of the Windham Whirlers Square Dance Club. Fred and Pat traveled extensively around the world while enjoying their retirement. His many other interests included gardening, fishing, camping, the out-of-doors, going to tag sales and creating interesting and useful items with ordinary things around the house. Fred loved his family and made everyone feel unique and special. Fred had a quick wit and loved to make people laugh. He liked nothing better than to tell stories and share his wisdom. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. In addition to his loving wife of 20 years, he is survived by his stepmother, Glen (Nevells) Powers of Bucksport; three daughters, Terry Phillips and husband, Malcolm, of Colchester, Conn., Denise Powers and her companion, Dave Hopko, of Stafford Springs, Conn. and Nancy Cox and husband, William, of East Hampton, Conn.; three stepchildren, Lorna Imbruglio of Tacoma, Wash., Leslie Cyrulik and husband, Anthony, of Rocky Hill, Conn. and Laurie Bernier and her companion, Stephen Rinn, of Windham, Conn.; eight grandchildren, April Powers, Amanda Phillips, Alison Durham and husband, John, Abbie Phillips, Jason and James Imbruglio, Joshua Powers and Jordan Dufault; seven siblings, Roger Powers of Bucksport, Dawn (Powers) Moylan of Portsmouth, N.H., Phyllis (Coombs) McIntosh and Frank Coombs, both of Prospect, Linda (Powers) Springer of Sedgwick and Jilleen (Powers) Briggs and Loris (Powers) DiCesare, both of Bucksport; and numerous extended family members and friends. In addition to his parents and his first wife, he was predeceased by a son, Richard G. Powers; and a brother, Michael M. Powers. Friends may call 5-8 p.m. Thursday, at the Aurora-McCarthy Funeral Home, 167 Old Hartford Rd., Colchester. The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Friday, directly at St. Patrick Church, 47 West High St. (Rte. 66), East Hampton with Fr. Charles R. LeBlanc, Pastor, as principal celebrant. Rendering of full military honors by the Antique Veterans of Colchester Honor Guard will follow Mass. Committal services will be 2:30 p.m. Friday, at St. Mary Cemetery, Burnside Ave., East Hartford, Conn. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Fred’s name to St. Patrick Church Repair Fund, P.O. Box 177, East Hampton, CT 06424, Middlesex Hospice and Palliative Care, 28 Crescent St., Middletown, CT 06457 or to The ALS Association, 4 Oxford Rd., Unit D1, Milford, CT 06460.
FREDERICK G. POWERS
