Lauriann (Gallagher) Powers, fondly known to her husband Terry as “Wonder Woman”, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by people she loved after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

She was the kindest, sweetest, and most loving person you could ever meet. She had an infectious laugh, a smile that could light up a room and a way of making everyone she encountered feel special. If you were lucky enough to call Lauriann your friend, you had a friend for life.

Lauriann is survived by her devoted husband of 47 years, Terry; her children, Meghan, Tom (Ann Marie), and Joe (Laura); and her grandchildren, Jack, Dylan, Lucy, Sophia, Julian and Graham.

She is also survived by her six brothers and their wives, all of whom she adored. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Annie Laurie Gallagher. She will be missed by her several aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews and her many, many cousins.

It was during her time at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan that she met Terry. While they shared the same circle of friends, it wasn't until the summer before their senior year that they began dating. Terry made Lauriann laugh, and she kept Terry in line. They married the year after graduation and spent the next 47 years building a life and family together.

After graduating, Lauriann taught eighth grade for two years before leaving to start a family. They welcomed three children over the next seven years, and then the fun really began. There were countless family trips, 10 wonderful years of cottage life, and 13 years of co-owning a promotional products company with Terry.

When Lauriann decided she wanted to try something new, she returned to Aquinas College and became recertified as a special education teacher. And boy, was she a good one. She had an incredible ability to connect with children and cared deeply about helping them succeed. When budget cuts at her school resulted in her contract not being renewed, she continued doing what she loved, tutoring children with special needs.

Family was always at the center of Lauriann's life. She cherished participating in all her children's activities—from sporting events to choir concerts to dance recitals. Although she didn't care much for sports herself, she cheered wholeheartedly at all of them. Her enthusiasm and pride in her children were unmistakable.

That same enthusiasm carried over to her beloved grandchildren. Even in her later years, when traveling became increasingly difficult, Lauriann somehow summoned enough energy to be there for them and for the things that mattered to them. Seeing her grandchildren brought her immense joy, and they knew without a doubt how much their Grandma loved them.

One of Lauriann's favorite things to do was attend art fairs, where she would search for anything unusual or unexpected that caught her eye and the more colorful, the better. Her home became a showcase of these wonderfully creative pieces. In fact, she probably could have held her own art fair with all the pieces she collected.

Lauriann lived a great life. She filled it with love, laughter, family, friends, adventure, and more than a few whimsical, colorful treasures. She will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

But she is at peace now. And knowing Lauriann, she's probably enjoying a glass of Chardonnay and a big, juicy cheeseburger.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to the wonderful caregivers at Hospice of West Michigan. Their kindness, compassion and care were truly off the charts. We are also incredibly grateful to the many dear friends and family members who dropped everything in their own lives at a moment's notice to help Terry whenever he needed it. The love and support she received meant more than you will ever know.

A special shoutout goes to her best friend, Margie Bosscher, who was always available to keep her company and help Terry out so he could play a little golf.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Lauriann's memory to Food Hugs, a West Michigan nonprofit dedicated to spreading kindness and helping people through difficult times.

Lauriann was, quite simply, one of a kind.

Our wife. Our mom. Our grandma. Our sister. Our friend. Our Wonder Woman.

And forever, our love.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 on Sunday, September 6 at the Wege Ballroom on the Aquinas College campus located at 1700 Fulton St. East, Grand Rapids, MI.