Willemina Centina (Tonsbeek) Powers, 79, a longtime resident of Stow, died peacefully at Emerson Hospital in Concord on February 21 following a brief illness. She was surrounded by the comforting embrace of her family. She was the devoted wife of James F. Powers, with whom she shared 54 years of loving marriage.
Born on January 16, 1944 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, she was the daughter of the late Roelof and Marie (Peute) Tonsbeek.
The path of her life was shaped by the courageous decision to travel to the United States at a young age in search of starting a new chapter. This journey and leap of faith led Willemina to meet her soul mate, Jim, in his hometown of Concord. Together, they raised a family that remained at the center of her life. Her four grandchildren were her pride and joy. The people they have become today is largely credited to her love, support and affection. She was infinitely grateful to be with such an amazing family. She loved her family more than anything, and that love was always reciprocated by those she gifted with hers. She enjoyed tending to her flower garden and cherished many family trips to the beach, beginning with her love of the French Riviera. She would often say “I’ve never met a beach I didn’t like.” She was also a member of the McCoy Pottery Collectors Society.
In addition to her husband, Jim, she will be forever missed by three children, James R. Powers and his wife Cindy of Nashua, New Hamspshire, Ryan M. Powers and his wife Denise of Ashland and Rachel Brierly and her husband Derek of Holden; four grandchildren, Mia Powers, Tyler Powers, Adam Brierly and Nathan Brierly; a sister, Joke Tognacci of Maynard; her cousins, Gerard and Anita van der Houven; along with their children Lennaert and Wouter of Cuijk, Netherlands; a sister-in-law, Kathleen Arthur and her husband Jay of Harwich; and her niece, Emily Saunders, her husband John, and their children Ridley and Delia, all of Montclair, New Jersey.
Family and friends are invited to gather for visiting hours on Thursday, March 2, from 4p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center.
To honor Willemina’s lifelong love of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of a memorial bouquet, or if one prefers, a donation in her memory to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org)
Arrangements are under the care of Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord. To share a remembrance or to offer a condolence in her online guestbook, please visit www.DeeFuneralHome.com.
