SCARBOROUGH ? Penny Gay Poto Powell, 60, passed away at her home, surrounded by family Sept. 28, after a long battle against gallbladder cancer.

She was born June 4, 1955 to Rosario (Rozzi) and Constance (Connie) Poto in Lewiston.

Powell graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn in 1973, followed by the University of Maine at Farmington in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in education. After graduation, she began teaching first and third grade at St. Joseph’s School in Lewiston and special education in Auburn.

She left teaching after having her children and, in 1985, Penny met her husband of 30 years, Dr. William Powell. She was instrumental in helping him build his dental practice in Windsor, and was active in many roles within the practice.

The happiest times of Powell’s life were when she was with her granddaughters. She would include them in many of her favorite activities and took them on frequent trips to Virginia and Florida.

Some of her favorite activities included paddle boarding, waterskiing, snowshoeing and hiking. Most often, Powell was seen with a tennis racquet in hand. Her passion for tennis often coincided with her passion for travel, and she and Will attended major tennis tournaments throughout the United States and Europe.

Her favorite destination was Jamaica, where she and Will visited numerous times and renewed their wedding vows after 29 years in December 2014. The couple built a beautiful home outside of Williamsburg, Virginia, where they planned to reside after Will’s retirement.

She loved to surround herself with her friends, and made maintaining and growing those relationships a priority.

Powell was a remarkable and loving woman with a beautiful and ever-present smile that she flashed effortlessly and often.

The family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Matthew Dugan and the entire staff at the New England Cancer Institute, as well as the staff of the oncology unit at Maine Medical Center.

Powell is survived by her husband, William Powell; three children, Brent Rand, Emily Krams and Heidi Rand; two granddaughters, Amelia Krams and Annabelle Rand, and three siblings, Patricia Kordalski, Thomas Poto and Michael Poto.

A memorial service was held at the Free Baptist Church in Scarborough Oct. 2.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cancer Community Center, 778 Main St., South Portland, ME 04106.

Powell