Theresa M. Powers

Theresa M. Powers, 91, a very loving and much loved woman, was called home to God on May 16, 2022. Theresa ("Terri") was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Her parents were Roger and Catherine Winn.
Terri was the middle of three children. Her brothers were Roger and John ("Jacky") Winn.
After high school, Terri attended the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts in New York City. From there, she married Douglas Pooley, also of Springfield. Together they had three children, Michaellyn, Christopher and Eric. Because of Doug's work requirements, the family lived not only in the United Sates but also in England, Cyprus and Germany at various times. Terri enjoyed every place they lived, and throughout her life loved traveling. Doug and Terri ended their marriage in 1975.
Terri married Vincent Powers in 1977. At that time he was living in Menands, NY and attending graduate school at UAlbany.
All of her life, Terri was an extraordinarily loving person who always wanted to help. This trait led her to do some remarkable things, inspired and strengthened by her Catholic beliefs about loving her fellow humans. Many of these are still continued today by others. A few of these:
While living in Peekskill NY during the 1980s, Terri became aware of the plight of homeless people in that city. She felt something needed to be done, and so she started to work. Her efforts led her to becoming the co-founder and then the director of Jan Peek House, a shelter where homeless people could get a bed, meals, counseling, and whatever other help they needed. The amount of good this place did, and is still doing, for homeless people of the Peekskill area is immeasurable.
After her retirement, while she was living in Charlottesville, VA, the death penalty was a much-discussed topic of social concern throughout our nation, and Terri believed a talk by the internationally known anti-death penalty activist, Sister Helen Prejean, would be useful to the Charlottesville area community. So she called Sister, reserved the 1,000-seat Performing Arts Center, lined up volunteers, offered free admission, and Sister spoke to a standing room only crowd. (In February 2021, Virginia became the 23rd state to repeal the death penalty.)
From Charlottesville, as a member of the Church of the Incarnation, Terri made her first mission trip to Haiti in 1999, at the age of 68. She was deeply affected by the extreme poverty she saw there, as well as by Haitian people's willingness to share with foreigners what little they had.
In 2003, she began her efforts to revive an inactive Haiti ministry in two parishes in Charlottesville - her new home parish of St. Thomas Aquinas and the historic parish of Holy Comforter. She herself made six more mission trips to Haiti, while in her 70s and 80s, to the remote village of Saltadère.
By the time she moved from Charlottesville in 2014, the bi-parish Haiti ministry was vibrant and successful. It is still strong and active today, still inspired by her vision of a caring community of love. A new school in Saltadère, a new staffed clinic, a repaired and enlarged village water system, and a strong bond between the Charlottesville parishes and the Saltadère parish -- all this and more have grown from her persuasive love of others.
Terri was predeceased by her brothers Roger and Jacky; by her father-in-law, Vincent Powers, Sr.; by her brother-in-law, Donald Powers; and by her former husband, Doug Pooley.
She will be terribly missed by her survivors: her loving husband Vincent; her sister-in-law Sister Madeline Powers CSJ; her daughter Michaellyn Martinez; her sons Christopher Pooley (Margaret) and Eric Pooley (Pam); and her grandchildren Noel Casler, Claire Pooley, Bridget Pooley, John Pooley, Grace Pooley, Megan Pooley, and Caitlin Pooley; and numerous cousins. She will also be missed by many friends, including fellow residents of Shaker Pointe at Carondelet, all of whom returned the love she had for them.
Terri had the strongest love for each member of her family, even during those moments when she might not remember their names (due to her valiant and lengthy battle with dementia). The family wants to express gratitude to the staff of Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center for the loving care given to Terri during her final months. And also to The Community Hospice for their supportive and thoughtful care for Terri as her health declined, added to the loving care of Eddy Memorial.
Calling hours will be held on Monday May 23, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at New Comer Cremations & Funerals, 181 Troy Schenectady Road, Watervliet, NY. A funeral service will be on Tuesday May 24, 2022 at 10:00 am at the funeral home and then to Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 498 Watervliet Shaker Rd., Latham, NY 12110 where a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am. Interment will follow the Mass at St. Peters Cemetery, Stillwater, NY.
In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory may be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Haiti Ministry, 401 Alderman Road, Charlottesville, VA, 22903.