Kathleen Michelle Powell

Kathleen Michelle Powell, 67, of Charleston, died Monday, November 24, 2014, after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She is survived by her life partner, Ted Ciesla, her sister Patricia Lehman Byrne, her brother Peter Lehman and his wife, Vera Ford, and her brother Michael Charles Lehman, along with many loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Jeffrey Damien Powell and Christopher Scott Lehman. Michelle was born in New Jersey and was a 1965 graduate of Chatham High School in Chatham, New Jersey. After receiving her BA she continued her education and received her Master's Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson in Madison, New Jersey. She was also a graduate of Katherine Gibbs. Until her recent retirement in 2014, she was the Director of Human Resources at Select Health for many years. She was loved and revered by her family and friends. She traveled extensively worldwide and enjoyed sharing stories from her annual trips abroad. She found great joy in nature and coveted the simplicity of it all. She marveled at the beauty of the low country and the colors of the ever changing marsh grasses and glorious sunsets that she saw from her home on James Island. She was an avid bird watcher, which she sometimes just enjoyed on her deck overlooking the Stono River. Michelle was a selfless person, who never asked of anyone or anything. She was the first to suggest to help others less fortunate than us and always knew just the right thing to say during the most difficult times. She was the matriarch of our family and we respected her role, and never challenged it. Services will be private but Expressions of Sympathy may be made in Michelle's honor to Dragon Boat Charleston - www.DragonBoatCharleston.org or Pet Helpers - www.pethelpers.com Arrangements by PALMETTO CREMATION SOCIETY, 11 Cunnington Ave., Charleston, SC 29405, (843) 722-2555. Online condolences may be left at www.palmettocremationsociety.com