Felecionia Pocius Cowan's Obituary
Felecionia Ann Pocius Cowan, known as “Po” and “Poey”, was born June 9, 1919, in Riverside, New Jersey to Lithuanian immigrant parents Frank and Marcella Pocius. She entered the Kingdom of Heaven on February 27, 2017. She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers Frank and Martin, husband James Henry Cowan, second husband Jim Poulos, son Frank Cowan, and granddaughter, Joanna Cowan. Poey leaves behind her devoted sons Brian and his wife Sally, and Jim and his wife Lisa, daughter-in-law Anna Rae Cowan Gilder, loving grandchildren Tiffany, Kristina, Erin, Denise and Erika, and adoring great-grandchildren Sean, Brandin, Zach, Ethan, Amber, Alex, Andrew, and Maggie. Poey enrolled in nursing school at Baltimore General in Baltimore, Maryland shortly after high school. One day after school she came home to find her apartment on fire. Her classmates across the street invited Poey to stay with them until she could relocate. While staying there, they all decided to join the Army Nurse Corps. Poey prevaricated about her age to get in the Army, and that seems to be the start of the adventure. Po rose to the rank of Captain in the Army Nurse Corps and served in Fiji, India, and Burma taking care of war casualties. Her family learned some 60 years later that she was awarded the Bronze Star for her service. While on Fiji she was courted by her future husband James Henry who was in the Corps of Engineers. (She also met her second husband James Poulos while on Fiji). At the end of World War II, Poey traveled from New Jersey to St. Louis to marry James Henry from Spur, Texas, on January 2, 1946. They moved to Spur, Texas and relocated to Richardson in 1958. Poey worked as a head nurse managing the Five West Medical unit at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas until she retired at 65. James passed in 1972. Poey married Jim Poulos in 1980 and had a very happy second marriage. Jim passed in 2007. Po was an impeccable dresser, culinary specialist, enthusiastic hostess, and the epitome of the ultimate Grandmother. She was strong, beautiful, gracious, and kind! She will be deeply missed by her family and friends, but Poey’s legacy lives on through her granddaughters, who each have inherited her strength, beauty, graciousness and intelligence, and in her great-grandchildren, who were fortunate to have known and loved her as well. Graveside service for Felecionia will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2017, in section Faith at 11:00 AM at Restland Memorial Park. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243.
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