Profile Text
Birth Name: Suzanne Lorraine Burce
Date of Birth: April 1, 1929
Place of Birth: Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Date of Death: September 16, 2021
Place of Death: Wilton, Connecticut, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, Northern Irish, Scottish, possibly other
Jane Powell was an American actress, singer, and dancer. Known for her performances in musicals of the 1940s and 1950s and “girl next door” persona, her roles included the films Song of the Open Road , Delightfully Dangerous , Holiday in Mexico , Three Daring Daughters , A Date with Judy , Luxury Liner , Nancy Goes to Rio , Two Weeks with Love , Royal Wedding (1951), Rich, Young and Pretty ; Small Town Girl , Three Sailors and a Girl , Seven Brides for Seven Brothers , Athena (1954), Deep in My Heart , Hit the Deck , The Girl Most Likely , The Female Animal , Enchanted Island (1958), and Tubby the Tuba ; the series The Love Boat and Growing Pains ; and the made-for-tv movie Meet Me In St. Louis (1959); as well as many roles on stage. She had a soprano voice. She spent time as a vocalist for musical group Pink Martini.
Jane was the daughter of Eileen and Paul Emerson Burce, who managed an apartment building. Her father was born in Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. She was the Oregon Victory Girl when she was twelve, before moving to California for her roles. Jane was married to actor Dickie Moore, until her death. She had two children with her former husband, figure skater Gearhardt Anthony Steffen; and a daughter with her former husband, car dealer Patrick W. Nerney.
Jane’s paternal grandfather was John Logan Burce (the son of Charles E. Burce and Frances M. Powers). John was born in Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin. Frances was the daughter of Andrew Reed Powers and Mary Jane Howard.
Jane’s paternal grandmother was Nellie Louisa Wrigglesworth (the daughter of William Arthur Wrigglesworth and Emma Louise Boomer). Nellie was born in Westminster, Prescott and Russell United Counties, Ontario, Canada. William was born in Ontario, the son of English parents, George Wrigglesworth, from West Yorkshire; and Isabella France. Jane’s great-grandmother Emma was born in Hawkesville, Waterloo, Ontario, the daughter of William Richard Boomer, whose father was a Methodist preacher, from Nova Scotia, and whose mother was born in Ireland; and of Sarah Ann MacKindsey.
Jane’s maternal grandfather was surnamed Baker.
Sources: Genealogies of Jane Powell (focusing on her father’s side) – https://www.geni.com https://www.findagrave.com