POWERS, Lois J. Nov. 7, 1924 – Dec, 8, 2017 departed this life on Friday December 8, 2017, with loved ones at her side. A much loved mother, grandmother and resident of Sunrise at Foxhill, as well as a model, photojournalist and actress, Lois lived her life focused around family.
Lois Paterson Jenks was born on November 7, 1924, the only child of Florance and Harold P. Jenks. She was born in Boston, grew up in Newton and graduated from Wellesley College. At Wellesley, Lois became special friends with the Pandit sisters, who were relatives of Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India.
Also while in college, Lois met her future husband, Philip Whittemore Powers, a student at Harvard. Lois and Philip were married on November 10, 1951, at the First Church (Congregational) in Newton Center, MA and remained married for 52 years, until Philip’s death in 2003. Lois and Philip resided in Wellesley, MA until 1966, when they moved to Houston, TX, where they remained.
After college, Lois worked as a model and a photojournalist, as well as assistant to a prominent literary critic.
Lois had a passion for theater, and performed for many years in a wide range of local theater productions. Lois also served as a model for commercials in her later years.
Lois was an expert archer and also pursued a variety of artistic hobbies. She played the accordion for many years, made stained glass and did paintings and sketches.
Lois loved to travel. She and Philip traveled the world together and with family, including many trips to London and around England, Paris and Provence in the fall, to Rome, Tuscany and the Italian coast, Oktoberfest, Bavaria and the decennial Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany, the Keukenhoff Gardens and fields of tulips in Holland, Salzburg and skiing in the Austrian Alps, to the highest peaks in the Swiss alps and towns, and Madrid and historic areas of Spain, as well as trips to China (including down the Yangtze River before it was dammed), Hong Kong (for its historic return from the UK to China), Japan, Canada, Mexico and Hawaii.
For the “Faux Millennium” in 1999-2000, Lois and 4 generations of family members made a 3-week around-the-world trip, including Europe, India, Nepal, Cambodia and Thailand, with Christmas at the Palace in Jaipur, India and New Year’s at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
For the “Real Millennium” in 2000-2001, Lois and 4 generations of family members spent 2 weeks in Paris at the Crillon, visiting ateliers, cooking school, museums, fashion houses, Formula One and other adventures.
Throughout their life, Lois and Philip spent happy summers with family at a family cottage in Maine.
Lois suffered the heartbreak of losing her young daughter, Tara, to childhood leukemia, and as well as the loss of her son Phil and grandson Whit.
During the last 7 years, Lois resided at Sunrise at Foxhill in Bethesda, MD, close to her daughter, Linda. Lois loved it there, and the staff became a second family for her. At Foxhill, Lois was famous for her smile, for her enthusiastic participation and for always wanting to be “proper.” Lois’ family is very grateful for the wonderful years of warmth and fun and care that she had at Foxhill.
Lois is survived by her daughter, Linda F. Powers, of Potomac, MD, her son Brad B. Powers of Houston, Texas, Brad’s wife Kelley, grandchildren Collin and Erin, daughter-in-law Carol Powers of Rowley, MA, and grandchildren Sam, Evelyn and Christine. Lois was preceded in death by her husband Philip, son Philip Whittemore Powers Jr., daughter Tara Fontaine Powers and grandson Philip Whittemore Powers III.
A Celebration of Lois’ Life will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2018 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the George F. Doherty & Sons funeral home in Wellesley, MA. Interment will follow at the family plot in Woodlawn Cemetery in Wellesley, MA.