Barbara Powell

Barbara (Smarsh) Powell

92, of Mobile, Alabama, fell asleep in the Lord on January 22, 2025. She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family. The last of her family’s generation, she was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings; Frank (Hazel), Stephen (Lilian), Anna (Harry Cuca), Daniel (Mabel), and Rose (Andy Bassuk); and three brothers in infancy; Ignaty, Eli, and Adam. Barbara is survived by her sons, Daroah (Tracy) and Donald (Laura) Powell, both of Mobile, AL; as well as, her beloved grandchildren; Nicholas, Katherine, Anya, and Konrad. Additionally, she is survived by many nieces and nephews; Michael Smarsh, John (Carla) Smarsh, Mary (Rob) Reetz, Gregory (Claudia) Cuca, Deborah Brooks, Sherre (Ed) Mendrala, Tammy and Donna Smarsh, James (Deborah) Bassuk, Susan (Danny) Meier, Jewell and John Alesi; as well as numerous other extended family.

Born on June 19, 1932 in Buckner, Illinois, Barbara was the daughter of Conrad and Maria (Kityk) Smarsh, Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants. As a first-generation American, she moved to Chicago in 1942 and graduated from Wells High School in 1950. She went on to work as a secretary at General Electric in the engineering department for almost 15 years. She married Donald A. Powell in 1956 at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago. Throughout her life she lived in Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Denver, Albuquerque, and Houston raising and caring for her family, finally settling in Mobile where she has lived for the last 35 years.

Barb was known for being a fervid lifelong Chicago Cubs fan whose fiery passion never ceased.

With a witty, tongue-in-cheek sense of humor, it wasn’t hard to make her laugh and when she did, it was undeniably infectious. She loved everyone, and everyone loved Barb; but she loved her family more than anything. She possessed an extraordinary heart and was always willing to give selflessly to others. She found her greatest joy in her sons and grandchildren, she loved being “Grandma Wadda” and “Barba” to her grandchildren. The greatest moments of her life were the births of her sons, her grandchildren, and when the Cubs won the World Series in 2016.

Friends and Family are to gather for the Visitation on Sunday, February 2, 2025, from 4:00pm until 8:00pm with a service at 5:00pm, at Russo’s Hillside Chapels, 4500 Roosevelt Road, Hillside, IL, 60162 (located between Mannheim and Wolf Road). Funeral to follow Monday, February 3, 2025, with friends and family meeting directly at Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, 1121 N. Leavitt St., Chicago, IL, 60622, for services at 10:00am. Interment at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, Illinois. A memorial service to honor Barbara in Mobile will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Penelope House, whose mission is to provide safety, protection and support to the victims of domestic violence and their children. Donations can be made at https://penelopehouse.org/.

Some of her last words were: “Thank you for loving me.” She loved unconditionally and was grateful until the end for all of the love she received in return. Memory Eternal. Vechnaya Pamyat.

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