Born Violet Mary Joan Sheehy on 20th October 1916 Joan never liked the name Violet and would only admit to the name in a real pinch. She preferred to go by Joan but was tickled pink when her grand-daughter Moana bought her a mug with her name on it. The name was Mary because there were none available saying Joan. Joan's parents both died when she was young and she & her older brother Jack and younger sister Vivian were raised by an Aunty for a while. Her Irish uncles and cousins would often gather to sing and play at her grandfathers home, they were all very talented Piano players. Joan was very athletic and won many bicycle and running races in her youth. She used to win all the boys marbles at school and their fathers would get very irate about it. They would come over and whinge to Joan's Father so he threw the marbles down the outside dunny. Joan has two sons, Gary and Wayne. She has 13 Grandchildren... Harmony, Carolyn, Michael, Roslyn, Vicki, Lisa, Matthew, Mahu, Moana, Maioha, Leilani, Arohanui, and Maraea. Joan's Husband was Harold Matthew Powell, who died in 1997. Joan was a practising Catholic and lived in the same house in Chermside, Brisbane for almost 45 years across the street from Wavell Heights State School. She worked at the Stafford Heights Post Office in Brisbane for many years. She is a direct descendent of the Tilley family and her Grandfather owned all the land out at Beaudesert, and a lot of the land from Beaudesert to Cleveland. Everywhere you see the Tilley name (Tilley Mountain, Tilley Bridge, Tilley Road etc) all are named after her Grandfather. Her Grandfather split his land among the boys of the family saying that the girls Husbands should take care of them. Joan Powell was 3/4 Irish and very proud of that heritage. She was very resilient and was tough. She stuck up for her kids and took great care of her Grandchildren. Together with her Husband she even took care of Matthew 24 hrs a day for about 6 months when he was a baby.