Myrtle Odlum

ODLUM, Myrtle (Reardon) Myrtle (Reardon) Odlum, 94, of Main Street, South Windsor, passed away Sunday (January 14, 2007) at Rockville General Hospital. She was born in South Windsor, daughter of the late, James H. Reardon and Ellen "Nellie" (Grosch) Reardon. She was the widow of Harry James Odlum, who passed away in 1983. Myrtle was also predeceased by her three siblings, James F. Reardon, Elmer Reardon, and Hazel Brennan. She graduated with honors from East Hartford High School in 1929, attended Morse Business College, was employed by the State of Connecticut Highway Department, Travelers Insurance Co., and Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. She served as Tax Collector for the Town of South Windsor from 1955 to 1959. Myrtle was a very religious person who loved all aspects of church participation in her parish, St. Francis of Assisi, South Windsor, where she helped as a religious education teacher. She served as president of the combined Mothers Club and Ladies Guild and was always available to assist in fundraisers. She also served as a facilitator of the Faith Sharing Group. She was a past regent of the Father Drennan Circle Daughters of Isabella. One of her greatest pleasures since being confined to her home was watching daily Mass on television. Myrtle was the first president of the Friends of Wood Memorial Library and was a volunteer there for many years. She did historical research on many of the homes on Main Street and other historical sites in South Windsor. Myrtle saved newspaper articles for the library until the last year of her life when this project became too difficult for her. Her other great love was politics. She met her husband Harry at a Young Democrats affair in Hartford. She continued to be very active in the Democratic Party. Her responsibilities included being in charge of the files for the South Windsor Democratic Party and running Election Day headquarters. Myrtle was president of the Democratic Women's Club for two terms, named the South Windsor Democratic Woman of the Year, honored on Democratic Appreciation Night, and was a delegate to the national convention, which selected John F. Kennedy as their candidate for president. She and her husband Harry enjoyed attending the Inaugural Ball, which celebrated Kennedy's election. Her great love of history led her to become very active in the South Windsor Historical Society. She served on the South Windsor Historical Commission for several years and was secretary for the State of Connecticut Historical Commission. She enjoyed visits from her nephew James F. Reardon, Jr., who is studying the Reardon family genealogy. Myrtle leaves her daughter, Barbara Odlum Woods; her son-in-law, John Andrews Woods; her granddaughter, Kathleen Anne Woods; several nieces and nephews and her two oldest and dearest friends, Barbara Murray and Barbara Pierce. Family and friends may gather, Saturday, 10:15 a.m., at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Road, South Windsor, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, 11 a.m., in St. Francis of Assisi Church, South Windsor. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, East Hartford. Her family will receive friends, Friday from 5-8 p.m., at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home. Donations may be made in Myrtle's name to the, Office of Radio and Television, Archdiocese of Hartford, 15 Peach Orchard Rd, Prospect, CT 06712, the Hospice Unit at Rockville General Hospital, 31 Union St., Vernon, CT 06066, the Hospice Unit of the Visiting Nurses Association of Connecticut, 8 Keynote Drive, Vernon, CT 06066 or the Friends of Wood Memorial Library, 783 Main St., South Windsor, CT 06074. Please visit us at www.carmonfuneral home.com for online condolences.