Sharon Marie Powell, née Sharon Marie Augustyn, was born January 2, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois. The first child of Joseph Augustyn and Florencja (née Grzesiakowski), second generation Polish-Americans, Sharon was born in Chicago and grew up in the north side neighborhood of Bucktown. Her father was a carpenter, specializing in the now nearly lost art of gold leaf gilding. Her mother was a homemaker, always caring and doting on Sharon and her younger brother, Patrick. In 1961, the family of four moved to Norridge, an early suburb of Chicago, which at the time still bordered farmlands. Beginning in her teenage years, Sharon went to beautician school and worked as a hairdresser in Chicago.
Introduced by mutual friends on a blind date, Sharon and Dennis M. Powell met in 1965. The couple stayed together throughout Dennis’s time with the U.S. Navy in Vietnam, and they married on November 1, 1969 after he returned home. They moved to Northlake from Chicago in time for the birth of their first son Bryan in 1973. Upon moving to West Chicago, a second son, Jonathan, arrived in 1976 and then a third son, Michael, in 1977. The family of five moved to Lombard in the 1977 and has stayed ever since, residing in three different homes in the village.
After the birth of Bryan, and until Michael was in middle school, Sharon selflessly dedicated herself to caring for her three sons. With her children she was tender and, at appropriate times, strong-willed and resolute. She was a most caring and responsible mother and wife. Sharon was endlessly proud of her three boys, all of whom developed into unique and successful men with graduate degrees and flourishing careers in their respective fields: pharmaceuticals, chemical engineering, and anthropology.
Bryan Powell is married to Christina Powell; they live in Evanston, Illinois with their three children, Emma, Madeline and Oliver. Jonathan Powell lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Michael Powell is married to Natilee Harren; they live in Los Angeles, California.
Sharon’s calling was to nurture those in need of support and development, especially those most vulnerable. Following her time raising her own children, she worked in education, helping special needs children to become capable adults. She also worked as a nanny, playing an integral role in the development of children in our community, including the Headley family of Elmhurst.
Sharon was a loving soul and a deeply caring, compassionate and empathetic person. By those who knew her and whose lives she touched, Sharon will be deeply missed and never forgotten.
Visitation Wednesday 3 to 8 pm at Brust Funeral Home 135 S. Main Street Lombard. Funeral will be held on Thursday, starting with payers at 9:30 A.M. for a 10:00 A.M. Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Lombard.
Interment Private at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to your local church would be appreciated.