Obituary: Susanna Bernard Odence

With great optimism, laughter and cheerfulness to the end, Susanna Bernard Odence sadly lost her battle with leukemia on August 30, 2016.

Susie was born in Camden, NJ, in 1934, and lived until the age of 9 in Haddonfield.

She and her family then moved to Moorestown, NJ, where she lived until 1999. That year she and her husband Larry moved happily to their summer home in Cotuit, MA, the village in which they first met in 1950.

In addition to Larry, her husband of 61 years, Susie leaves her son Philip and his wife Beth of Waltham and Cotuit, and their girls Clarissa of Brookline and Charlotte of New York City; her daughter Robin and husband Addison Grimes of Sudbury and their girls Adriana of Sudbury and Richmond, VA, Meredith, and Julia. She also leaves a brother Glenn Bernard of San Antonio, TX, sister Jane Rockwell of San Luis Obisbo, CA, and brother Thomas Bernard of Berwyn, PA.

After marriage Susie taught early grades for several years, but after the children came along dedicated herself to their education and support of Larry in his business travels, where she joined him on many overseas adventures. She continued to work with children volunteering for Head Start and, as recently as a year ago, mentoring students in the Barnstable school district.

Always interested in education she became very supportive of the effort to save her alma mater Sweet Briar College when it appeared the institution would close. Essentially through the efforts of alumni such as Susie it appears to be on the path of continuing and growing success after a scary and undeserved time of planned closure.

Susie was particularly concerned about the well-being of scholarship students who might never have another opportunity for advance studies had the college not been saved. In May she enjoyed a trip back to Sweet Briar for her reunion and to celebrate the school’s survival.

Susie was well known for her infectious smile, cheerful laugh and general good humor (just ask the ladies in the Cotuit Post Office or the staff at a dozen local restaurants). Her concern for others may best be illustrated by the fact that she left her remains to Tufts University School of Medicine.

Susie will be remembered as a kind and friendly lady who will be missed by all her family and friends, indeed all those with whom she came in contact.

There will be a memorial service in her honor at the Cotuit Federated Church School Street Cotuit, Massachusetts on Monday, September 5, 2016 at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Sweet Briar College (http://sbc.edu/alumnae-development/ways-to-give).