Obituary of Nicoletta M. Powell

Nicoletta “Nickie” M. DiProspero Falconio Powell

1940 - 2025

Nicoletta M. DiProspero Falconio Powell, age 84, of Rome, was peacefully embraced into the Father’s arms on Saturday,  May 24, 2025 surrounded by the profound love of her family after a two-year battle with cancer. She was born in Rome, New York on July 7, 1940, daughter of the late Eustachio and Agnes (DiProspero) Falconio.

Nicoletta, “Nickie” graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1958. On June 1, 1963, Nickie married, Larry Powell, her high school sweetheart. Two daughters quickly followed, and Nickie dedicated herself to their care, pouring all her energy, love and concern into them. She remained supremely dedicated to their well-being until the day she died. As her girls got older, she worked part-time at Steffen’s Publishing Company. Later in life she also worked as a school monitor for Rome City Schools.

Nickie was a strong, loving, thoughtful and kind person, concerned with every detail of life. She was the most important thing anyone can be, good. She was a good woman. Throughout her life, her family observed her thank, praise, uplift and build up many of the people she encountered in her everyday path, co-workers, neighbors, people she met at the gym.  This included many of the doctors, nurses, aides and assistants that she encountered in her care at Rome Hospital and Upstate Cancer Center at Verona.  The family wishes to extend a special word of thanks to Kim Penner and Kimberly Richards for their medical care, joyful spirits, generosity of time and compassionate hearts.

Nickie was a faithful communicant of St. Peter’s Church. She and the family would like to thank her God family for their unwavering support, love and prayers. Thank you to all who called, visited, drew pictures, prayed, cooked, baked, drove, gifted, offered rosaries and spent time before the Blessed Sacrament on her behalf. We have no doubt she will remember all of you before the throne.

She is survived by her two daughters, Karen A. Powell of New Jersey, Gail E. Powell of Nevada, Kay Hetherington who was like a daughter to her; five grandchildren, Sarah, Nicole, Richelle, Jennifer and Michael; great-grandchildren, Giovanna, Angelo and Mikayla and eleven additional great-grandchildren; dear family friend, Marilyn Ouimette; many nieces, nephews, cousins. Also surviving; her eldest brother, Stachio Anthony Falconio of Rome, sister and brother-in-law, Theresa and Rex Nelson of Florida, Deborah Pinti of Rome, who was like a sister to her.  Nickie, is predeceased in death by her parents, middle brother, Ret. Major Vincent Falconio, loving husband, Lawrence W. (Larry) Powell, her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenneth F. and MaryAnne Powell and her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Catherine A. and Patrick Lynch.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Nickie’s name to: St. Jude Children’s Hospital by calling 1-800-822-6344, online at: www.stjude.org or by mail: Memorials Processing, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to St. Peter’s Church, In Mission of the Christ Child (Food program for the needy), 200 N. James St., Rome, New York 13440 or by calling: 315-336-5072.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 11:00 a.m., at St. Peter’s Church, 200 N. James St., Rome, NY.   Family and friends may call at the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd., Rome, NY, on Friday, May 30, 2025 from 4-7 p.m.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery. 

To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com