Sharon Janit (James) Powers, 82, passed away peacefully at her home at 7 PM on Saturday November 4^th, 2023. Born on October 18^th, 1941 in New Albany, IN, she moved to Peru, IN as a young child and remained there until her family moved to Lafayette the summer before her senior year of high school. Sharon graduated from Lafayette Jefferson High School, and in the year that she spent there made many life-long friendships. Sharon attended Purdue University where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education.

Shortly after graduation, she moved to Los Angeles, CA and began her career as an elementary school teacher. While in LA, Sharon met her future husband William (Bill) Powers. They were married in St. Mary Cathedral in Lafayette on December 31, 1966. After the birth of their first child in 1969, they decided to move back to Lafayette where they had three more children and established their family in a community they love dearly.

Sharon, who had always had an entrepreneurial spirit, founded School Datebooks in 1985 while sitting around her kitchen table trying to devise a fail-safe way to ensure that her children would remember to bring home their daily homework. Now known as SDI Innovations, the company has grown to become an integral part of the community with offices in Lafayette and Bellingham, WA, with thriving subsidiaries Ag Printers, Eventlink and STEM Education Works all under the SDI umbrella.  Sharon’s spirit will continue to live on at SDI Innovations through the Kitchen Table Values that are the guiding star for the organization, as well as through annual activities such as Craft Day and the Thanksgiving carry-in.

Sharon is survived by her husband Bill, and children (all residing in Lafayette) Erin Powers, Tim Powers, Andy Powers and Josh Powers, her brothers John Qualio, Jr (Lafayette), Jim James (Omaha), and sisters Roseanna (Qualio) Hatke (Lafayette) and Connie James (Pennsylvania), and grandchildren Lindsey (Denver), Tyler, Lilly and Trevor Powers all of Lafayette.

She was preceded in death by her parents Janit (Warder) Qualio and Conrad James, stepfather John Qualio, Sr., brother Phillip Qualio and daughter-in-law Lori (Wetli) Powers.

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at St. Mary Cathedral, Fr. Anthony Rowland officiating.  Private interment will be at St. Mary Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Sharon’s name to Lafayette Catholic School System Teacher Endowment Fund or Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Lafayette.