Linda M. O'Dell

"Enville, TN, Linda M. (Brodeur) O'Dell, 61, former longtime resident of Palmer, died Saturday, September 21 at home surrounded by family. Linda was born in Ware July 26, 1952 and was the daughter of Emma (Brothers) Brodeur of Enville and the late Carl Brodeur (2013). A 1970 graduate of Palmer High School, she furthered her education at Springfield Technical Community College in the field of Cosmetology. She became a certified licensed beautician at the former Barsoms Beauty Salon. Her life could be most notably defined in her work for the advocacy of children with disabilities and special needs. Additionally, dedicated to providing children with a warm, loving home, she and her husband were foster parents for over 10 years, and received an award in 1997 as "Foster Parents of the Year". She was also a volunteer, working with Tennessee Voices for Children. Linda O'Dell was an honest, humble, selfless, loving, caring and generous person who made a profound impact on the lives of others. She was passionate about advocacy for the rights and needs of children with disabilities and her proudest accomplishments were being a mother and grandmother. Linda treated everyone she knew like family. Her home always had an open door with an extra seat at the table. Her sense of humor and laugh-out-loud animated story telling was positively contagious. She was infamous for her party planning skills, her love of Holiday decorations and QVC Shopping. Linda was an angel sent from heaven and those who knew her are truly blessed. Besides her mother, she will be deeply missed by her husband of 42 years, Maurice (Skip) O'Dell, Jr. , her children, Shawn O'Dell (Finger, TN) and Heather O'Dell-Axelrad and husband, Adam Axelrad (CT), a sister Betty Brodeur (Dolgeville, NY) and her Adopted Children - Scott O'Dell, Courtney O'Dell, Louis O'Dell, Ashley O'Dell, Nicole O'Dell, Fred Peck (all of TN) and Christopher O'Dell (MA), along with grandchildren Brendan O'Dell and Meghan O'Dell (MA). Funeral services will be Friday, September 27 at St. Thomas Church, Palmer, followed by burial in St. Paul's Cemetery, Warren. Calling hours will be Thursday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Beers & Story Palmer Funeral Home, 1475 N. Main St. (Rte 20). For those wishing, please make donations in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or American Cancer Society. For more information, please visit www.beersandstory.com "