Deana Louise (Powell) Erickson

Deana Louise (Powell) Erickson, age 67 of DuBois, PA, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Thursday, June 10, 2021, after a long fight with cancer.

Born on July 25, 1953, in Johnstown, PA, she was the daughter of the late Dean and Alice (Ellis) Powell.
Deana was a graduate of Somerset High School and married Mark Erickson on August 7, 1971. He survives.

She was a founding board member of Christian Youth Leaders Inc. (CYL), and secretary of the DuBois Ministerium for many years. She and Mark dedicated their lives to youth ministry beginning at Lakeside United Methodist Church, then Tri-County Church, and CYL’s Abba’s Coffee House in downtown DuBois for over 20 years. Deana invested her time and love to hundreds of youth in DuBois offering them acceptance and giving them hope for a better tomorrow.

Deana enjoyed photography, ancestry research and travel to historic locations exploring her roots. She delighted in spending time with family and friends, boating and kayaking at Treasure Lake in DuBois and Deep Creek Lake in Maryland. She had a great love for tending her many plants and flowers that decorated the inside and outside of her home. She spent hours observing and photographing birds and collecting shells on the beaches of South West Florida during the winter months.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years, Mark A. Erickson of DuBois, and three children: Janet Okonski and her husband Justin of Pittsburgh, PA; Michael Erickson and his wife Angela of Bradford, PA; and Matthew Erickson of DuBois, PA.

She is also survived by four grandchildren: Garrett, Lillian, and Luke Erickson, and Henry Okonski; three sisters: Linda Hawthorne and her husband Les of Lynchburg, VA, Mary Alice Emert and her husband David of Somerset, PA and Nancy Emert and her husband Paul of Stoystown, PA, and her brother, David Powell and his wife Jodi of Whitsett, NC, also sister-in-law, Lynne McKee of Tucson, AZ. She had 15 nieces and nephews and 26 great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents, Dean B. Powell in 1983 and Alice Louise “Al Lou” Ellis Powell Wirick in 2020. She was also preceded in death by her mother’s second husband, Rev. Melroy Wirick. Grandparents: Harry and Alice B. (Craig) Ellis as well as R. Dwight and Mary “Belle” (Bowman) Powell.

Visitation will be held on Monday, June 14, 2021, from 2 – 4 PM and 6 – 8 PM at the Baronick Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at 12 PM from Tri County Church with Pastor Bevan Bish officiating.

Burial will follow in Morningside Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Square One, PO Box 1003, DuBois, PA 15801 and/or donorbox.org/sq1.

Online condolences can be sent to www.baronickfuneralhome.com.


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