Janina Powell

Janina Plonski Powell was born December 23, 1918 and went to be with her Lord on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. A very intelligent and fearless child, she left Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania at the age of 16 to seek a brighter future in New York City. There she worked as a big band singer, as well as in a bank where she met a young Army officer from North Carolina named Frank Talmadge Powell Jr. One week later they married, a marriage that lasted 62 years. They welcomed their only child, Mary Kym Powell Mincks, while stationed in Germany. Mrs. Powell pursued a career in finance and also achieved Life Master Status in Duplicate Bridge. She was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church; a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, always generous with her time and support. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Major Frank T. Powell Jr.; her parents Apollonia Szczypkowski (Plonski) and Adam Plonski and many siblings. She is survived by her daughter, M. Kym Powell Mincks and husband, Jeffrey; granddaughters, Amanda M. Jones, Margaret Mincks, Corinne M. LeReche, and Grace K.B. Mincks; grandsons, Adam P. Mincks, Talmadge J. Mincks, John C.P. Mincks, Christian M. Mincks; grandsons-in-law, Gregory Jones, Nicholas LeReche; grand-daughter in-law, Caroline Mincks; great-granddaughters, Gabriella C. Jones, and Susanna M. LeReche. She is also survived by her sisters, Helen Mulligan and Henrietta Evina; nephews, Frank Evina and Richard M. Powell and wife, Barbara; many nieces and nephews; special friends, Trina Underhill, Scott Ross, Lindsey Lilley and Mary Beth Yates. She was an example of how far an individual of drive, intellect and faith can go from a little coal mining town, to the capitols of Europe, to the heart of a home in Colonial Heights. She will be dearly missed. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 25, 2011 in St. Ann Catholic Church, 17111 Jefferson Davis Hwy. Colonial Heights, Va. 23834, with Father Lou Ruoff as Celebrant. Interment will follow in Southlawn Memorial Park, Prince George. The family will receive friends Monday morning from 10-11:00 a.m. prior to Mass. Arrangements by the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard.