SWAMPSCOTT - Mary Louise Powers entered into rest on December 3, 2020 after a short illness resulting from complications of cancer treatment. She is survived by her children Catherine and Dan Knowlton of Essex, MA, Robert Powers and Jeanette Hughes of Salem, MA, Richard Powers and Teresa Ulrich of Portland, OR, David and Mindy Powers of Boca Raton, FL, and Gerald and Mary Ellen Powers of Plum Island, MA; siblings, Donald Meade of Redondo Beach, CA, Patricia M. Maloon of Natick, MA, and Martha A. Gallagher of Waltham, MA; grandchildren Jordan Davis of Jerusalem, Israel, Coby Powers of Boca Raton, FL, and Tyler Powers and Elizabeth Knowlton, both of Brooklyn, NY; and two great grandchildren. Mary is predeceased by her husband George Carroll and brothers Gerald Meade and John Meade.

Mary was born into a large family in Waltham, MA and was the fifth of six siblings. Her father, Norbert Meade was a master plumber who worked in shipyards during World War II; and her Mother, Myrtle (Nisbet) Meade was ill for much of her childhood and passed away from cancer when Mary was just 12. As a result, Mary grew up fast, frugal, and self-reliant; Mary graduated from Waltham High in 1953, attended secretarial school, took classes at Harvard extension, and worked for several years before marrying Robert J. Powers in 1956. Together they raised their family in Natick and Winchester before moving to Swampscott in 1967.

Mary delighted in her family and raised her children with boundless energy and zest for life. The Palmer Avenue house was always full of life, and everyone was welcome. She had a natural ease and loved to entertain-whether it was the famous Phillips Beach clam and lobster bakes, the Great Race parties, or the legendary Christmas Eve open houses. Mary always made everyone feel like a part of the family-she was open, honest, and eternally positive. She made every gathering a wonderful communion. Mary bicycled everywhere, and the family biked with her. Many summers were spent traveling in the Ford station wagon-bikes on top-to Woods Hole… then on to American Youth Hostels along the Cape and Islands and stopping along the way to spend time with family in Falmouth. There were also many visits to family in Waltham and Natick. Mary was always on the go!

While living in Swampscott and raising her five children, Mary was also involved in the League of Women Voters, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, PTA, and St. John the Evangelist's Confirmation Program as well as being an activist for conservation and environmental causes. Mary was one of the original advocates for recycling, the bottle bill, and Rails to Trails in Swampscott. She was passionate about the environment and the natural world and was happiest when outdoors on her favorite beach, tide pool, glade, forest, or garden. But Mary loved the beach and the ocean most. She was one of the few people in Swampscott concerned with conservation, ecology, and environmental issues in the early 1970's and throughout 1980's and strove to protect the natural beauty of her home town. She would say that she failed for the most part; but ultimately, she won the battle of hearts and minds and forged the way of the future. The Harold King Town Forest and the Swampscott Rail Trail (now being built 40 years later) are living testament to her efforts. Many a developer and town manager would grimace at the sight of Mary at a Planning Board meeting over the years. She strove for a cleaner environment, sustainable consumerism, and a more just and more open-minded society; and she acted on those desires in an effective grass-roots manner despite all the other tasks and responsibilities that competed for her time.

Mary was also a natural educator, and she never stopped learning herself. She attended North Shore Community College and Essex Agricultural School as an adult and studied ecology, botany, marine biology, and environmental science. Botany was her special interest and she could name every flower, bush, and tree. Mary delighted in sharing this knowledge with everyone and spent many years as a contractor to North Shore schools running her famous "eco trips" where school children would learn about marine biology, wetlands, forest ecology, and geology by studying the tide pools and forests where they live. This had a profound effect on those children, who as adults conduct their lives with deep respect for the environment.

After her children were grown, Mary acquired her real estate license and worked for many years at Coldwell Banker in Swampscott and Marblehead. She was successful as a managing broker, selling the family house on Palmer Avenue in Swampscott and moving to Washington Street in Old Town Marblehead where she lived for many years. Later, after marrying her second husband, George Carroll, Mary and George moved to Siesta Key, FL where she continued her successful real estate career. Mary immersed herself in her new Florida life-enjoying the jazz scene, volunteering her time and knowledge as a tour guide at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (home to her beloved epiphytes), and building countless lasting friendships. Her family has so many beautiful memories of spending vacations in Siesta Key Village and beach and her special paradise on Birdsong Lane. Because Mary was able to beat back and survive cancer, she was able to enjoy, love, and participate in her beloved grandchildren's lives into their adulthood. They too are infused with her spirit, and they were blessed to be able to revel in Mary's special magic.

Mary was a warrior who fought cancer for over 40 years and triumphed so many, many times despite the odds. Her mother and her brother Jerry both succumbed to cancer at an early age, and Mary sensed that it was her cross to bear as well. Her children remember collecting for the American Cancer Society door-to-door from a very young age. When ultimately diagnosed with a chronic and genetic cancer, Mary faced the challenge head-on, contributing to the scientific study and ongoing research in this area in order to help others with her sacrifice (as had those who went before and helped her). Mary volunteered for and joined cancer support and survivor groups in Sarasota. She cherished her time with her "Babs" group of cancer survivors as well as her on-line diabetes support group. Her wisdom, kindness, and compassion were an integral part of the healing process to so many. Mary also dedicated herself to her husband George's seven-year struggle with Alzheimer's disease until he pre-deceased her in 2019.

It is difficult to capture Mary in words. A poet laureate would be challenged to capture her spirit in verse, but we must endeavor on. Mary was a real polished gem–"an angel woman has taken flight," a friend said. She was the kindest, most loving, thoughtful, strong, and wise woman. She was a great listener with a remedy for your heart, spirit, or head cold. Each of us, her children, thought she would just always be here.  Mary was gregarious and outgoing-empathic and empathetic. She had an immediate intimacy with folks and an ability to connect with whomever she met and knew what made people tick right away regardless of their age, race, religion, or gender. It was a privilege to know Mary, but it was a special privilege to be her daughter or son-to have the cool mom. Mary also loved animals, especially her cats, who over the years included Ginger Mol, Cleo, and Red; and she leaves behind her beloved Hilly.

Mary's presence will remain vivid for all who met her-because she is Mary Powers, and she is always going to look after us. Her beautiful energy and her pure positive spirit will forever be with us, and for that we are fortunate. Mary would use the word blessed, as her faith was unwavering. She was a wonderful woman who made so many around her feel loved. Mary was a very special person, and while there are many, wonderful people in the world, Mary's compassion was unsurpassed. We will all keep close her wise words and memories and will hear her inner voice often. She was very special and loved everyone like they were her own. She had care, love, and inspirational guidance for all of humanity.

In lieu of flowers, we believe Mary would have wanted contributions to Pancreatic Cancer Action network (pancan.com), the American Cancer Society (http://donate.cancer3.org) and Marie Selby botanical garden (Selby.org).

ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to attend Mary's funeral Mass which will be held in the Immaculate Conception Church, 15 Hawthorne Blvd., Salem on Friday, July 23, 2021 at 11 A.M. Assisting the family with arrangements is the O'Donnell Funeral Home, 84 Washington Sq., (at Salem Common) Salem. We encourage you to share memories and offer condolences at www.odonnellfuneralservice.com. As per Mary's wishes, her family will be celebrating her life post-COVID in July 2021 with a Mass, reception, and a beach party – details to be shared on the O'Donnell Funeral Home memories page.

"Take care of thyself"

"Shut up and eat your sponge cake"