Shirley B. (Lavallee) Powers

Shrewsbury - Mrs. Shirley B. (Poulin) Powers, of Shrewsbury, died peacefully on Saturday, August 16, 2025, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was 82. 

Shirley Blanche Poulin was born August 22, 1942, in Worcester, a daughter of the late Harvey and Florence Blanche (Lavallee) Poulin. Raised in Auburn and Worcester she was a graduate of Saint Stephen’s High School Class of 1960. She married Patrick J. Powers on June 29th, 1962. Patrick died December 4, 1992.

Shirley worked as a bookkeeper for the R. Gordon & Son Corporation and later R.J. MacKoul before retiring.

She was a longtime member of Dudley Gendron Post 414 American Legion with the Ladies Auxiliary, marching with her good friend and sister-in-law Patricia, Patrick’s twin sister. She enjoyed many friendships from her time attending the Shrewsbury Senior Center. Shirley loved a good game of bingo or a trip to the casino. She kept active with walks around her Shrewsbury neighborhood and as a member of Saint Anne’s Parish. All of her grandchildren can easily recall being brought to Mass with her throughout the years. She loved crocheting and crafting as well as hosting the holidays, with Christmas being her favorite as she loved to spoil her grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking, with golumpki’s and lasagna being her specialties, but she also looked forward to any opportunity to go out and share a meal with her family.

In addition to her husband Patrick, she was predeceased by their daughter, Anna M. Powers on January 27, 2022.

She leaves her sons, Patrick J. Powers, Jr. of Shrewsbury and James E. Powers (Victoria) of Worcester; her grandchildren, Stephanie, Michelle and Caitlin Powers, Derek Powers (Julia), Dylan Powers (Kita Dorego) and Ryley Powers; eleven great-grandchildren; her siblings, Edmond J. Poulin of Cape May, New Jersey, Stephen E. Poulin of Shelton, Connecticut and Mary A. Newth of Worcester and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services and burial in Notre Dame Cemetery will be private. 

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 100 North Pkwy, Worcester, MA 01605 or https://www.alz.org/

Arrangements by James + John Heald of The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street, Waltham.