Obituary of Florence Powers

Florence Powers, age 89, was a retired Houghton Mifflin employee passed away on Monday morning, June 3. Florence was born in Cambridge the daughter of Canadian immigrants, the late Eli and Florence Rose. She grew up and was educated in Cambridge. She had worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in their Bursar’s office. She then had a very long career at Houghton Mifflin Company in their customer service department. Florence’s life revolved around her family and church. She was the devoted wife to her husband Harold for 59 years. They were not only husband and wife, but friends. They shared their faith and were very active members of the United Church of Christ in Burlington. They also shared the love of square dancing. They were long time members of the Red Hot Squares. They square danced all over New England, spending weekends dancing with friends and even attended a number of square dancing conventions. Florence was a loving mother to her 3 children. She raised them in their family home in Medford and later Burlington. She especially enjoyed being “Nana” to her 6 grandchildren. She was a very talented seamstress. She could sew dresses, outfits, and dolls cloths. She also did needlepoint, crocheting, and cross stitch. She unselfishly gave of herself for her family and in her final years her family returned that love in the way they lovingly cared for Florence as she struggled with the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Florence was the beloved wife of the late Harold Gordon Powers. She was the loving mother of Harry & his wife Evie of Weeki Wachee, FL, Marilyn Price & her husband Tim of Beverly and Donna Prins & her husband Bob of Bradford. She was predeceased by her siblings; Ella Cheney, Elizabeth Candow and Eli, William & Frederick Rose. She was the proud grandmother of Rebecca Powers of Pelham, NH, Jenna Powers of Tyngsboro, Sara Powers of Somerville, Christopher Carlsen of Beverly, Andrew Carlsen of Beverly, and Jonathan Prins of Bradford. Funeral Services will be held at the United Church of Christ Congregational, 6 Lexington St., Burlington on Friday, June 7 at 9:30 a.m. Relatives & friends respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Florence’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472.