Passed on Friday, 17 June 2022
The Rev. Edith (Edie) O’Donnell passed away peacefully at her son’s home surrounded by family on June 17, 2022. She was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Bob O’Donnell, her sister June Perret, and brother Edward Perret. She is survived by her son Bill and friend Lorri Logan, of Ellenville, NY; Jeff and his significant other, Sherri Vega of Windsor; and Mark and his wife, Martha of Windsor. She also leaves behind her nephew Hank Perret and his wife, Mary of Austin, Texas, and Meredith Noble and her husband, Bill, of Virginia Beach, and special friend, Margot Jepsen. She also leaves behind her beloved grandson Liam and his partner, Allisa Evans, of Shrewsbury, MA.
Edith was born to Ali and Lena (Gagnebin) Perret of Torrington, CT. Edie and Bob were married for 49 years before his passing. Theirs was an incredible partnership. They supported each other throughout the various phases of their lives. She being the mid 20th century housewife, he becoming the late century minister’s husband. After raising her three sons, Edie enrolled in UConn in order to become a teacher. Near the end of her studies, the ministry called and she attended Yale Divinity. After graduating in 1978, she was called to serve as Associate Minister at Center Church in Hartford, and later as Senior Minister at Brecksville UCC in Brecksville, Ohio. Upon retirement, she continued to serve as interim and guest minister at various churches in Connecticut including Wilson, Riverton, East Woodstock and Buckingham Congregational Churches. She especially enjoyed conducting services for the Caring Connection in Windsor. Prior to her studies, she was actively involved in the Litchfield Congregational Church, and in the statewide UCC Connecticut Conference in a variety of capacities.
A generous soul, she volunteered with various organizations in the Windsor in recent years including the senior center, the Windsor Public Library, and the tutoring program at Wilson Library. She also went on many youth service trips with The First Church of Windsor, well into her eighties. Edie touched untold people in her service driven life. She and Bob enjoyed traveling, visiting friends, and taking part in the Elder Hostel program. Edie was an incredibly passionate UConn Women’s Basketball fan and travelled to many Final Fours to root on her beloved Huskies. She took great pleasure in the companionship of her cats Smoky and Floyd, among many others over the years. She enjoyed the companionship of many very close friends throughout her life. Of course, her greatest joy was spending time with her grandson, Liam.
A memorial service will be held at The First Church of Windsor, 107 Palisado Avenue, Windsor, on July 2, 2022 at 11:00am, with a time to reminisce with family and friends following the service in Nelson Hall. Burial will be held privately in Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, you may remember her with a contribution to First Church in Windsor.
To read more please go to: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/hartfordcourant/name/edith-o-donnell-obituary?id=35352372
Edith was born to Ali and Lena (Gagnebin) Perret of Torrington, CT. Edie and Bob were married for 49 years before his passing. Theirs was an incredible partnership. They supported each other throughout the various phases of their lives. She being the mid 20th century housewife, he becoming the late century minister’s husband. After raising her three sons, Edie enrolled in UConn in order to become a teacher. Near the end of her studies, the ministry called and she attended Yale Divinity. After graduating in 1978, she was called to serve as Associate Minister at Center Church in Hartford, and later as Senior Minister at Brecksville UCC in Brecksville, Ohio. Upon retirement, she continued to serve as interim and guest minister at various churches in Connecticut including Wilson, Riverton, East Woodstock and Buckingham Congregational Churches. She especially enjoyed conducting services for the Caring Connection in Windsor. Prior to her studies, she was actively involved in the Litchfield Congregational Church, and in the statewide UCC Connecticut Conference in a variety of capacities.
A generous soul, she volunteered with various organizations in the Windsor in recent years including the senior center, the Windsor Public Library, and the tutoring program at Wilson Library. She also went on many youth service trips with The First Church of Windsor, well into her eighties. Edie touched untold people in her service driven life. She and Bob enjoyed traveling, visiting friends, and taking part in the Elder Hostel program. Edie was an incredibly passionate UConn Women’s Basketball fan and travelled to many Final Fours to root on her beloved Huskies. She took great pleasure in the companionship of her cats Smoky and Floyd, among many others over the years. She enjoyed the companionship of many very close friends throughout her life. Of course, her greatest joy was spending time with her grandson, Liam.
A memorial service will be held at The First Church of Windsor, 107 Palisado Avenue, Windsor, on July 2, 2022 at 11:00am, with a time to reminisce with family and friends following the service in Nelson Hall. Burial will be held privately in Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, you may remember her with a contribution to First Church in Windsor.
To read more please go to: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/hartfordcourant/name/edith-o-donnell-obituary?id=35352372