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Phyllis Powell

Born August 12, 1921

Died December 21, 2013 at the age of 92


Born in Liverpool, England, the youngest of nine children, all of who pre-deceased her, Phyllis started work in a newspaper/tobacconists at age 12 then at a seafood store. During WWII she was an Air-raid Warden and a munitions worker.

Phyllis married John (Jack) Powell in 1946 and lost her first child to birth complications. Her second son was born in 1951 and her youngest in 1954. The whole family moved to Kitimat the first time in 1955, moved back to Liverpool in 1959 and returned to Kitimat in December 1966 for the last time. She learned how to press clothes at their drycleaners and after it closed in 1972, went to work at the hospital in housekeeping, where she worked until she retired in 1986. While she worked in Extended Care she would entertain on pub nights and started doing various acts on the Kitimat Telethon which she did for over 20 years. She still went to pub nights after she retired and was “Lady of the Year” one year and “Citizen of the Year” the next. Phyllis was also the Whitecap Cheerleader to many.

Phyllis and Jack helped their son bring up his two children; she would walk her dog, Charlie, accompanied with her husband Jack and hand out “toffees” to everyone they met and dog biscuits to any dogs on the route. She was active in the Royal Canadian Legion from 1967 until she was slowed by health problems in her late 80’s. She was Master-at-Arms for the Ladies Auxiliary a lot of that time and helped to make and serve many meals at banquets. She played Santa Clause for the Legion, Luso, the Kitimat Seniors and other groups around town that asked her to.

Phyllis saw the good in everyone, and both people and animals were treated with an open heart. Jack, the love of her life, died in 1997 and a small spark went out of Phyllis and she became more and more reclusive. However, put a microphone in front of her and she was as outgoing as ever, right to the end.

She was a mother of two: Edwin (Cindy and family) and Fred (Sue); grandmother of four: John, Ryan, Peggy (Ben) and Megan; great-grandmother of Virginia.

Our thanks for the care and dedication from Dr. Huang and the staff and her friends at the Hospital, Homecare and Mountainview Lodge.

Our thanks for the help and guidance from the United Church minister Donna Lethbridge and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion with our Celebration of Life for Phyllis that was held on January 11, 2014.



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