Emily Anne (Kachmar) Odey

Emily Anne (Kachmar) Odey, a longtime resident of Concord, NH, entered eternal rest at the age of 85 on Oct.31,2023 in Lynchburg, VA, where she spent her last years close to her family. “Mimi” to her five grandsons, Emily was a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, “cat- mom” and friend. She will always be remembered by her humor and kindness that lit up the hearts of everyone who knew her.

Emily was born on May 27,1938 in Anson, Maine to Muriel L. (Dickinson) and John J. Kachmar. She graduated from Madison High School, Madison, Maine in 1956 and Maine Medical Center School of Nursing in Portland, Maine in 1959 gaining her RN degree. She also received her BA in Psychology from New England College in 1979. She married John E. “Jack” Odey on Nov. 28,1959 and moved to Concord, New Hampshire, where they raised their three children and had a very happy life together for 55 years.

Emily worked for many years in an internal medicine office for an Endocrinologist as a Registered Nurse before retiring and spending time with Jack doing all of the things they loved.

She was a longtime member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Concord serving on the Parish Council a few years as the president. She volunteered as a nurse at her daughter’s Girl Scout Camp, a Cub Scout leader and was most proud of a play she wrote for the boys to perform. She loved to write in general and received awards for her writing, most notably in 1985 from the NH Nurse’s Association and American Journal of Nursing for her article, “What about Flu Shots”.

Emily was an avid reader; she loved to go to the Maine beaches with her friends; but she especially loved to spend time with her five grandsons attending all of their many activities and sporting events and graduations over the years. She was extremely proud of all three of her children in addition to her grandsons. In her retirement, she leaned into her creative side, writing poetry for friends, painting in vivid watercolors, and gardening and also volunteering at the Epsom, NH public library.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband Jack in 2014; her parents (her mother died when Emily was only 11 years old); her stepmother, Marita Kachmar; an infant daughter, Kathleen Mary Odey, and many other relatives and friends.

Left to cherish Emily’s memory are: her brother, John C. Kachmar “Jack” of Scarborough,Maine; her daughter Karin A.Truitte (Dr. David Truitte, MD) of Lynchburg,VA; her sons, Col. (USAF ret) John M. Odey (Sharon) of O’Fallon, IL and Edward J. “Eddie” Odey of Leominster, MA; her five beloved grandchildren, Kevin E. Truitte (fiancé Laura Ruiz) of Silver Spring, MD; Dr.Ryan J.Truitte, MD of Salt Lake City, UT; Jeffrey M.Truitte of Richmond, VA; Dr. Matthew D.Truitte,DMSc of Denver, CO, and Nathan T.Truitte of Ashburn, VA. She is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and a large group of good friends.

Her family wishes to thank everyone at Valley View Retirement Home in Lynchburg, VA., where Emily spent her last three years living independently, and where this New Englander was welcomed to the South and formed great friendships most notably with Mrs. Cathy McAden.

A special thanks to all of the providers of her excellent care at Centra LGH by the nurses in the Neuro.ICU; Dr. John Haas; Dr. Justin Anderson; Dr. Mac McCrary for his years of care; and all of the many other wonderful caretakers. Many thanks to all staff of the Westminster Canterbury 6th floor Hearthside for their devotion and loving care to Emily and her family, as well as both Centra and Westminster Canterbury hospice services.

Emily’s life will be honored in a Memorial Mass on December 16, 2023, at 11a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Concord, New Hampshire. Facebook: Immaculate Heart of Mary Facebook Livestream    YouTube:Immaculate Heart of Mary Livestream IHM Concord, NH.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the following organizations close to Emily’s heart: Kids’ Haven: A Center for Grieving Children. kidshavenlynchburg.org • The Free Clinic of Central Virginia Freeclinicva.org

The Friends Program http://www.friendsprogram.org

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family.