Joyce E. Powell

Joyce E. Powell (nee Whelan), 92 a longtime resident of Ridley Park died on May 7, 2026 at her home. Born in Chester, she was the daughter of the late Gilbert and Edith Goldby Whelan.

Joyce was a graduate of Collingdale High School and was a member of The Church of St. Madeline in Ridley Park. Before her retirement in 1996, she had been an Instructor of Business Machines at Delaware County Community College for 26 years.

In her younger years, Joyce was active in the Republican Party and local politics, she always looked forward to working the polls. Joyce was very creative and artistic and was also a tremendous baker. She was known as "Nana" by everyone and loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was the wife of the late Benjamin J. Powell, mother of Richard G. Neerland (Debra) and the late Deborah Ann Owens, mother-in-law of James Owens, sister of the late Fay Santangini, and David Whelan, grandmother of Jacqueline Zielke (Dave), Julianne McLaughlin (Christian) and Caitlin Owens and she was the great-grandmother of Emily, Alan, Grace, Jeffrey, Cole, Ellie, Charlotte, Julian, Weston, Theodore.

Funeral Mass 10:30 AM Monday, May 18, 2026 at The Church of St. Madeline, 400 Morton Ave., Ridley Park where a visitation will take place from 9:15 to 10:15 AM.

Memorial gifts to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org/ would be appreciated.