Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Remembering Odette

Odette de Bruniere Benjamin Terrel des Chenes shared the joys of life with us from October 10, 1926 until July 11, 2011.  Her grace and dedication to beauty infused us with love.  She was a mother to us all and a guiding light to the innate treasures of being a human on this orbiting globe.

I was fortunate enough be her daughter of the left hand for the past 22 years.  It is difficult for me to imagine this world without her.  Maybe through this digital device we can share our grief and our love to help us continue to remember to enjoy this limited dance together.

One of Odette's favorite sayings- "There's a dance in the old dame yet..."

14 comments:

  1. I can see Odette now in heaven, sporting her latest fashion accessory, a shiny new pair of angel wings!

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  2. She was so admired and loved by the Tucker Family. She WAS our family. Oh how I can hear her say " OH- Sweetheart........", her laugh, her grace. If only I could grow up and have her "style of life". We love you Odesky!

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  3. I am heartbroken but I am so glad that I got to talk to her two weeks ago, and she sounded so vivacious and so happy. Chris- she was so thankful to be in Austin where you were to help her.
    Odette- tell Elizabeth I said hi and I love you both and look forward to seeing you both again some day.
    Thomas Tucker

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  4. We love you so much, Odette.
    Whoever was lucky enough to get to know Odette, would fall in love with her. She was the most loving, caring, inspiring and graceful human being and funny, too.
    To many she was a mother, influencing countless lives in her positive and caring way.
    Odette, you were an angel on earth and you moved on to be an angel in heaven.

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  5. Odette, the angels in heaven are rejoicing. I love you and I will miss you. Soon, we shall meet again...

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  6. Goodbye Odette!!! It has been my great honor to have known you these past 9 years. I will dearly miss our time together. Bye Sweetie!

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  7. Here is a great link showing the work Mom did for Communities for Recovery. She shows up several times in this very well done video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gdz___zYPKU

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  8. This a picture of a young mother with her children striding down a beach with delight. Odette loved. She loved forever and ever. When asked if she were considering "dating" several years after Ghee passed away, she replied, "Why? When you have known the best?" She adored her family and friends. Odette loved. I picture her now greeting each opalescent dawn guiding the path of reflecting sun light ashore. Indeed, she brightened the days of our lives. Thank you Odette for your love for your family and friends. Rosemary

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  9. Such a beautiful woman both inside and out. She always was filled with laughter and joy. Very sweet and caring to her family and loved ones. Her spirit will continue to live among us. Rest in peace. Rodolfo (fito) del Cid-Keller

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  10. I had the great pleasure of getting to know Odette some twelve years ago, when I began researching my biography of the cartoonist Charles Addams. Odette, if you don't know, was one of Addams's great loves and great friends, to the end of his days. And during the years I was working on the book, she became one of mine. She continued the friendship in the post-Addams years, and most generously extended it to my family. She twice visited us at our home in Massachusetts, and I always meant to visit her in Texas, but couldn't make it happen before she died.
    Odette was a rare being. She combined great beauty with a superior artistic talent and deep humanity, an abiding concern for the welfare of others. She was a most selfless volunteer. She was a perceptive woman and honest about her own vulnerabilities, which she shared with others. She was very cosmopolitan and sophisticated, and yet empathetic with all kinds of people. She had the common touch.
    After my own cancer diagnosis in 2006, Odette was right there for me, talking to me on the phone, writing encouraging letters in her also-unique handwriting. She was wonderfully kind to my adult autistic son, Randy, in whom she took a special interest.
    I will miss her presence more than these words convey. I cannot replace her friendship or our conversations. She leaves a big hole in my life.
    My deepest condolences to her much-loved family, of whom she was so proud.
    Love, Linda H. Davis

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  11. Meeting Odette was one of a kind experience, her, beauty shined from within & surrounded everyone around her. I brought my miniature horses to her so often. The horses were such a wonderful event in her life & she loved sharing little Toby with all her friends. She took such a delight in having the horses visit her when she was in the hospital. She had taken several photos of Toby in her apartment, she was always laughing. There will never be another woman like her & anyone who did know her were blessed. Heaven is lucky to have you but I also know you will still be walking among us every day. Bless you Odette, we will miss you.

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  12. Our most sincere condolences go to an extraordinary family and let me tell you, it has been a privilege to have met such a distinguished and lovely Lady, we will always have precious memories of her kindness, and charismatic personality. Until we meet again May God keep Mrs. Odette in the palm of his hand... hugs Mark Medore and all the family

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  13. Nous apprenons seulement maintenant la disparition d'Odette pour laquelle nous avions beaucoup de bonheur à partager avec elle ce lien entre nos deux familles. Nous pensons beaucoup à elle aujourd'hui, à toute sa famille et à Guy évidemment.

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  14. In English, we are just aware now of Odette's last trip. We share with Odette's family the pain of the loss. We think a lot of her family, of her and of Guy. We remind that we keep with her this family link, this "French link". I (Cédric) have spent some days with her those last years (in Savannah and in Austin). I will remind those good times.
    Best regards to all of you.
    Cédric Bachelot (Terrel des Chênes family), son of Karin, Guy's goddaughter.

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