Odessa Taft

“It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Odessa Taft, who died in the early morning hours of January 11, 2026. While her death came too soon for the many who loved her, Odessa lived a full and extraordinary life, and she would not want to be remembered with only sorrow. She would want an obituary that captures what so many who knew her described her as: a true force.

Born Gloria Liedtke on September 8, 1952, in Brooklyn, New York, Odessa did not grow up in the easiest circumstances. But she never let hardship define her or stop her from living a fulfilling life. Instead, she used it as fuel to rise and reinvent herself. With courage and determination, she embraced a new chapter, taking on the name Odessa and moving to a commune for a new adventure. It was there that she learned the importance of nature, holistic living, and spirituality- values she carried close to her heart for the rest of her life.

During that time, Odessa welcomed her first son, Rain, and at a young age demonstrated remarkable selflessness in protecting his wellbeing and future.

From there, Odessa followed her dreams back to New York City, where she stepped into a daring and exciting life as an actress, performing on stage and holding her own among Hollywood legends, many of whom came to call her a friend.

Of course, Odessa’s greatest accomplishment was her family. She met her beloved husband, David, in the fall of 1977, and from that moment forward, the two were inseparable. Together they spent the next ten years in New York City building a life filled with romance, adventure, and joy, before marrying in June 1987. Married for 38 years, their love remained steadfast and David will carry Odessa in his heart forever.

A few years later, Odessa welcomed her twins, Dylan and Ondine, whom she dedicated her life to raising. She embraced the deeply fulfilling and rewarding role of a stay-at-home mother and homemaker, giving them a dream childhood filled with wonder: backyards with magic ponds and animal friends, dress-up costumes, freshly baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and later, the kind of open and honest conversations you can only have with a mother who truly cares for you and sees you for who you are.

That same love—far too briefly, but unmistakably—was shared with her grandson, Devin. Though she only had seven months with him, Odessa filled that time showering him with love and making beautiful memories like listening to classical music together, sitting under the ginkgo trees, and laying down for baby yoga and cuddles. The imprint she left on his heart will last forever, and Devin was profoundly blessed to have any time at all with such an incredible woman.

Odessa also had two other grandchildren, MacKenzie and Cash, whom she loved and adored. They were fortunate to have made their own special memories with her.

With David and her children, Odessa was able to travel the world, visiting different countries in Europe and Asia, taking majestic cruises, and soaking in the beauty of national parks and the wilderness out West. Later in life, she also developed a deep passion for politics, and she was both strong and admirable in her convictions.

Odessa did not want a funeral. She wanted a party to celebrate her life because that was her spirit: someone who chose not to dwell on what was bad, but instead made things good, the way she so powerfully did throughout her life.”