Helen L. Powers

BILLERICA - Helen L. (Hodgkins) Powers, 71, a 43-year Billerica resident who volunteered her knitting skills to make gifts for babies at Lowell's hospitals, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, at home. She was the wife of the late Joseph T. Powers Sr.

She was born in Boston, March 10, 1932, a daughter of the late Rupert and Carrie (Caton) Hodgkins and had lived in East Boston before moving to Billerica.

Before her retirement, Mrs. Powers had been employed as an assembler at Semicon for 12 years.

She had enjoyed crocheting, needlepoint, and making doll clothes by hand. Mrs. Powers was active at the Billerica Senior Center, where she made hats for newborn babies at Lowell General Hospital and Saints Memorial Medical Center.

She is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph Powers Jr. and his wife Regina of Billerica, David Powers and his wife Jill of Dracut, and Kevin Powers and his wife Susan of Lowell; two daughters, Christine Greathead of Lowell and Jean Powers of Billerica, a brother, Richard Hodgkins; eight grandchildren, Mark Walsh, David J. Powers Jr. and Kristin Powers, Joseph Powers III, Carrie Ann Powers, Douglas and Lea LeRiche, and Destiny Powers; two great-grandchildren, Daniel and Evan Powers. She also leaves many nieces, nephews, cousins and her close friends, Edith Murray and Jeannie Murry.

She was also the sister of the late Rupert Hodgkins.