Who is considered to be the "real" executioner?

Your sister would be the executrix. A power of attorney would terminate when your mother passes away. The will appoints the executor/executrix therefore, she would get the appointment.

"Executioner" is the guy with the mask and a big ax. Executor is the person who manages the assets of a deceased person. Only a court can appoint an executor. Usually, the court appoints the person who is named in the deceased's will but if there is good reason to object to this appointment the court will appoint someone else. ?Good reason could be that the person owed money to the deceased, has been dishonest in the past, is having financial problems, is unsophisticated financially with limited education or some other reason that makes the person unlikely to fairly and rapidly administer the estate Warning: often if the judge sees two family members fighting about who will be the executor, she/he will appoint an outsider, usually an attorney, as the executor. This will be VERY, VERY expensive. Everybody will be much better off if the family can agree to appoint joint executors.