Carolyn Nancy Odell

1957 - 2023

BORN

1957

DIED

2023

Carolyn Odell Obituary

Name: Memorial service for Carolyn Nancy Odell
Start: 2023-08-19T19:00:00.000Z
Location: Carrolton Station

Carolyn Nancy Odell passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side on July 9th, 2023. Carolyn was born on August 31st, 1957 in Topeka, Kansas, the youngest of five children. She graduated from Topeka West High School in 1976 and received a full scholarship to Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans. She later graduated cum laude in Mathematics from Tulane University. Carolyn was an accomplished musician and songwriter and was a lover of literature and art. She was the lead singer in the Uptights Band, performing with her brother, John and husband, Alan. Carolyn was also a member of several other New Orleans based bands and local church choirs. Carolyn will be remembered by her two sons, Andrew and Alan Hill, her brother, John Odell, two sisters, Sally Pelly and Kim Eldein, as well as several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Nancy Odell, her husband, Alan Hill, and brother, Roger Odell. Those who knew Carolyn will always remember her gentle spirit, kind heart, unwavering optimism, and quick wit. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Rest in peace, dear Carolyn. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, August 19th at 2:00pm at Carrolton Station located at 8140 Willow St., New Orleans, LA 70118. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA) in memory of Carolyn. To make a donation, please visit the HDSA website at https://hdsa.org/get-involved/tribute-memorial-donations/.

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Published by The Times-Picayune from Jul. 15 to Jul. 16, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Carolyn Odell

4 Entries

Alexis Stevens

July 29, 2023

Carolyn may be the warmest, most genuine, brilliant and beautiful friend who has come into my life. We met when her Tulane Madrigal group needed costumes which I made for them.

I didn't see her for a year or two after that, and then I saw her on the street car. She recognized me and we started up a friendship which led to her connecting me with a years-long job at Leisure Landing Records. When I saw her on the street car that day, it was a sunny typically warm New Orleans afternoon. I just remember this long golden hair flying every time the breeze in the street car started up after stop. She was so unselfconsciously beautiful! I had learned she was from Kansas, and I thought she looked like a Kansas Wheatfield - hair, skin, eyes, all golden. Aura - golden. When I think of Kansas where I've never been, I think of my Kansas friend, Carolyn.

We ended up singing together in our own a cappella group for years, and she and Alan bought a house about two blocks from my mother's house where I grew up, so it always felt like home to me.

One thing I want people to know about Carolyn is that she never once said a cross word to me. I don't know how she managed it. But she really never did. And Carolyn taught me how to give a big fat hug to people. I came from a family they didn't really do that as a rule, so it was a real gift to me learning to be comfortable giving someone a big hug other than a child or a dog. That was Carolyn's mark on the world and it was a good one.

Now that she's gone, I want to say that my deep sadness over the course of her health and losing her so slowly has to given way to my relief and joy that she is not hurting anymore. I also have to give gratitude for the fact that she was ever in my life as a regular part of it, spreading her sunshine the way she did.

She truly made my life better, and I'm very grateful to her for that. I'm equally grateful that she had such a wonderful brother in John, and that John and Nippy and the whole family took such good care of her the way they did. It's a real tangible testament to love. Thank you for showing that and putting it in the world. Thank you for taking care of my beloved friend.

Paul Rossnagel

July 17, 2023

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I'll be thinking of the Hill and Odell families, and keeping you all close to my heart.

Alexander Hart

July 16, 2023

I'm so sorry for your loss, my heart goes out to the families.

Natalia Matallana

July 16, 2023

Sending our love to the entire Odell and Hill families during this difficult time.

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