BELMONT ---- Eileen Joan Marchand Powell, 98, of Belmont, New Hampshire peacefully returned home to her compassionate, merciful, and loving Creator on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
Eileen was born on November 28, 1926, in Revere, Massachusetts to Peter Wilson Marchand, Sr. and Gabrielle Helen David Marchand. She was the youngest of three children. Her birth certificate noted her name as “Ailene Rose Marchand.” It was changed at some later date.
After graduating from high school in Springfield, Vermont, Eileen entered nursing training at Mary Fletcher Hospital in Burlington, Vermont. While in training, she met Edgar Powell who was in the Vermont Air National Guard. They were married shortly afterwards in Burlington, Vermont on August 3, 1946. They had three children: Linda Gail Powell (Boenisch), Kathleen Diane Powell (Knight) and Michael Scott Powell.
Ed Powell served in the military from April 10, 1943 until his retirement from the United States Air Force on October 31, 1971, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During those years, Eileen and Ed enjoyed military assignments at Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, Florida; Recife, Brazil, Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. After retirement from the military, they settled in Georgetown, Texas before moving back to New England to be with aging parents.
While in Brazil, Eileen engaged in humanitarian service as a volunteer in the favelas (slums) providing much needed food, clothing and basic medical aid for children and elderly women. While in Gilford, New Hampshire, Eileen was employed at Byse Realty as a real estate agent.
In 1997, she moved to Belmont, New Hampshire.
Eileen was a great conversationalist and was blessed with a clear mind almost until the end. During her life she enjoyed entertaining as an Air Force officer’s wife and relished golf, bridge and oil painting. She was an avid reader of many genres throughout her life. Lately she liked TV tennis, golf and football, video games and the company of her beloved cat, Furnando.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter Marchand and Gabrielle David Marchand, and her siblings, Robert Marchand and Alice Marchand Tier Emerson and nephew Robert ‘Bobby’ Marchand.
Eileen is survived by her three children and their spouses, Linda Boenisch (Edmond) of Cheyenne, Wyoming; Kathleen Knight of Moultonborough, New Hampshire; and Michael Powell (Elizabeth, “Dodie”) of Victoria, Texas. She has four grandchildren: Laura Zubrod (Kabe); Lisa Hutchinson (Erin); Michael Powell and Matthew Powell and five great-grandchildren—Jacob, Madeline Zubrod Knapton (Michael), and Nicholas Zubrod, Ryan, Benjamin and Kate Hutchinson. She is also survived by a niece, Alison Tier Kallsen, two nephews Peter Marchand and Thomas Tier (Christy) and two great-nephews, Max and Thomas Tier.
There will be no calling hours.
A Graveside Service will be held at a later date at the St. Mary’s Oakland Cemetery, Springfield, Vermont.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations in Eileen’s name to the New Hampshire Humane Society, PO Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.