Odes Elden

Odie passed away peacefully on August 23, 2024, at the age of 99. Odie; who was born at 2lbs. 14oz. on April 15, 1925, lived a healthy and happy life. Her deep love for her husband; Judge Sandy (S.J.) Elden (who she met at age 11 at Sunday school in Detroit), never stopped growing through many years of marriage. They shared a commitment to helping others through their faith (Temple Beth Emeth) and many service organizations (Breakfast Optimist Club, Kiwanis Club, James L. Crawford Elks Lodge, Boy Scouts of America to name a few.) Sandy passed away in 2015. Since 2014, Odie and Sandy had lived at Chelsea Retirement Community where they made many friends. With her deep sense of community, Odie remained the self-appointed “welcome wagon” for new residents to CRC. In 2020 (COVID) she moved in with her daughter, Nancy (Wiley), and son-in-law Steve. She lived happily with them until she passed on 8/23/24. She enriched their lives and helped them to endure the Pandemic with her positive attitude.

After several years of marriage, Sandy and Odie felt a strong desire to add to their family. They opened their hearts and home to Nancy who they adopted in 1954 and Donald in 1958. A third special friend of Nancy’s (Jacki Mitchell-Roehm) unofficially joined the family in 3rd grade when she lost her Mom. Each of their children were encouraged to develop their own interests and talents with lots of support and dedication. They took wonderful family trips to see most of the 50 states as well as other countries.

Odie was the youngest of 3 daughters. Her sisters – Isabel Markowitz and Fern Lutz lived in the Detroit/Southfield area and are now deceased. Odie’s daughter Nancy married her husband, Steve, in 1985. Odie's son Donald passed away in October of 2022. Donald's step-son, Jeff Lally (Sheila and son Aaron) and step-daughter, Heidi Guy (Buddy and their 3 daughters – Shawna Chester, Jaclyn Guy and Lizzie Guy) are special members of the family who also mourn Odie’s loss.

In April of 2023, Odie’s, Nancy's and Steve’s lives were further enriched by the addition of two wonderful caregivers for Odie – Carolyn and Alexandria Meredith. They quickly became part of the family and offered great care, love, and companionship.

Everyone who knew Odie will deeply miss her. She was short in stature but super-sized when it came to personality, spunk, and love of life and family. She was buried in her Wonder Woman Halloween costume (worn at Chelsea Retirement) because nothing else suited her better.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly suggests donations be made in Odie’s memory to the:

UMRC Foundation (Chelsea Retirement Community) at 805 W. Middle St., Chelsea, MI 48118 or you may use their website at: https://foundation.mybrio.org/donate-online

Odie has been laid to rest in a private family burial.