Jean Powers, 78, of Bethlehem, died Oct. 12, 2024, following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was the wife of Gary P. Powers for 11 years.

Born in Baltimore, Md., she was a daughter of the late John and Eleanor (Sherman) Boyda.

She graduated from Parkland High School. She earned paralegal certification and won the Outstanding Legal Graduate Award at Northampton County Community College. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in public administration and economics from Cedar Crest College and a master’s degree from Lehigh University.

She was a Northampton County court advocate for Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley. She was a paralegal and notary for attorney Kevin J. Kelleher for more than 19 years and earlier worked in the finance and law department at Bethlehem Steel Corporation. A graduate of the first city of Bethlehem Citizens’ Academy, she served as liaison to Mayor John Callahan.

She served on the Lehigh County Children and Youth Advisory Board and was a member of the Lehigh-Northampton Counties Legal Support Staff Association.

She received the 2009 Northampton County Department of Human Services Outstanding Senior Award and the AAUW-Bethlehem Branch Outstanding Woman Award.

She was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Bethlehem, where she was a cantor, soloist and first soprano at Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

She sang with the Lehigh University Choral Union, Masterworks Chorale at Cedar Crest College and was a soloist at the former St. Paul’s Church, Catasauqua.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a grandson, Kein Yuge of Bethlehem; and Gary’s children, Ali, Sarah and Matt and their families.

Contributions may be made to Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, 444 Susquehanna St., Allentown, 18103, or Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem, 18020.