Marie Elizabeth Powers, 87, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at her home in Watchung, New Jersey.

Born on November 19, 1938, in Manhattan, New York, Marie was the beloved daughter of the late James and Susan Fogarty. She was raised in the Bronx, where her strong foundation in family, faith, and education began. Marie later became a longtime resident of Yorktown Heights, New York, before moving to Somers, New York, and eventually settling in Watchung, New Jersey in 2020.

Marie was a proud graduate of Villa Maria Academy High School in the Bronx. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in history from Marymount Manhattan College, a reflection of her lifelong love of learning. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in the Bronx, embarking on what would become a deeply meaningful and lifelong vocation.

Through mutual family friends, Marie was introduced to Joseph Powers. Their relationship quickly blossomed into a loving partnership, and together they built a beautiful life centered on family and friends. As their three children were growing up, Marie made the selfless decision to step away from teaching to devote herself fully to raising them. When her youngest entered school, Marie resumed her teaching career, ultimately concluding it at St. Patrick’s School in Yorktown Heights, where she left a lasting impact on generations of students.

Marie was a devoted parishioner of St. Patrick’s Church in Yorktown Heights and later St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Somers. Her faith was a guiding force throughout her life and was reflected in the quiet, steady way she cared for others.

At the heart of who Marie was, was her role as a caregiver, and she was a person who could always be counted on. It was not simply something she did, but who she was. Whether she was nurturing young minds in the classroom, raising her children with unwavering love, or supporting her grandchildren with warmth and guidance, Marie gave of herself completely. She extended that same compassion to her parents in their later years, ensuring they were cared for with dignity and love. When her beloved husband Joseph faced illness, she stood beside him with strength, patience, and devotion, embodying the very definition of selfless love. Marie’s life was a testament to the quiet power of showing up for others, day in and day out, without hesitation.

She also found great joy in traveling, especially throughout Europe with her husband, creating memories that she cherished deeply. An avid reader, Marie appreciated the simple pleasures of a good book. She also cherished the time she spent with her friends, maintaining meaningful friendships that spanned decades.

Marie was predeceased by her loving husband, Joseph Powers, in April 2020; her sister Patricia McLaughlin; and her brothers-in-law Thomas McLaughlin, Al Choy and Sean Larkin.

She is survived by her three children, Joe Powers and his wife Debbie, Jim Powers and his wife Amy, and Elizabeth Stine; her six cherished grandchildren, Katie and her husband Kenny, Kevin, Julia, Avery, Ryan, and Riley; and her two sisters, Susan Larkin and Kathleen Rosewall and her husband Lee.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Higgins Home For Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, New Jersey 07069.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 11:30 AM at Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, located within Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 10 W. Stevens Avenue, Hawthorne, New York 10532. Interment will follow immediately thereafter at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Marie’s loving memory to:

Boys Town

14100 Crawford Street

Boys Town, NE 68010

https://www.boystown.org

or

St. Joseph’s Indian School

1301 North Main Street

Chamberlain, SD 57325

https://www.stjo.org