Rita Mary (Caron) Odell

ATHOL- Rita Mary (Caron) Odell, 82, of Athol, died on her birthday, Thursday, April 30, in Wachusett Manor, after an illness. She was born April 30, 1933, in Baldwinville, daughter of the late Albert and Emma (Leblanc) Caron. Mrs. Odell was the oldest of fourteen and was a homemaker, raising her nine children. Once her children were grown, she worked at E.B. Kingman in Fitchburg, Rich’s Department Store in Gardner, Burger King in Athol, as a cafeteria worker at three different schools in the Texas school district, at the Senior Center, and the Franklin Hampshire Employment and Training, both in Athol. Mrs. Odell was a member of the Athol-Orange Baptist Church, the Church choir, and the Grandparents Group at the Patch office in Athol. She enjoyed her family, the outdoors, and had a special fondness for owls. Her husband of 64 years, William J. Odell, died in 2007. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Mary Ann Dorion in 1996, her son, William Odell in 2011, and two brothers, Ernest Caron in 2012, and Paul Caron in 2013. She leaves three sons, David Odell and his wife Stacy of Athol, Ronald Odell and his wife Vicky of Gardner, and Arthur Odell of AZ; four daughters, Amy Odell of Athol, Nancy Yackuben, Katherine Christiansen of North Reading, and Judy Odell of Portland, TN; one brother, Joseph Caron; five sisters, Noella Laitinen, Pauline Williams, Jeanette Caron, Cecile Caron, and Alice Caron; many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. The funeral will be held Wednesday, May 6, at 12:00 Noon in Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Rd., Orange. Reverend Mark Bariloni will officiate. Burial will be private. A calling hour will precede the funeral Wednesday, May 6, from 11:00 A.M to 12:00 P.M. In the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association, 10 Speen St. Second Floor, Framingham, MA 01701. $(document).ready(function(){ });