Mrs. Odette Marie Andrieux Coffey

COLUMBIA - Odette Marie Andrieux Coffey, 90, died January 17, 2016 in Still Hopes Retirement Community in West Columbia, SC. Odette Coffey was the widow of the late John Michael Coffey and the daughter of Jean Louis Alphonse Andrieux and Marie Louise Françoise Alphonse Boisivon. She was born February 4, 1925 in Saint-Malo, France. Living in France she learned to be a survivor during the war, and this led her on a path of appreciating life to the fullest. She met the love of her life, our Daddy, during the war and soon after getting married became a proud citizen of the United States. She reminded her children often how lucky we were to live in such a wonderful country. She was a giver and a gentle and loving mother to her four children and to others who were blessed to be her friends. She was very active in her church and volunteered at the chapel of Fort Huachuca, AZ as well as an active member of the Military Council of Catholic Women. After her husband passed away she and a small group of women started a Widow Support Group at Ft. Huachuca, and she became an active and passionate volunteer in helping others through that difficult journey. She volunteered with that group and through the years, with the support of the Army, they grew into a large and vital organization. In 1997 she helped start a Widows Grief Support Group, where members could come and talk with others who were going through the process of grief. Her husband was an officer in the Army and was deployed often, while she was left to care for her family. She loved life in the Army and understood how important it was to help and support others. She also found much pleasure, delight and fulfillment in working the soil in her garden, and her passion for gardening turned her garden into a paradise. She would say a garden is like life: you add some plants, you lose some plants, but if you do not love your garden, just like in life, weeds will take over. Her love of being with people showed with her sweet smiling face greeting everyone who knew her. Her beautiful blue eyes and gentle spirit would light up a room. She lived in Sierra Vista, AZ until moving to Columbia a few years ago. Surviving are her sisters, Louisette Bras of Bandol, France, and Jeannine Yvonne Sigler of McDonough, GA and children, Patricia Maureen Coffey (Tucson, AZ), Carolyn Lee Coffey Bogle and her husband, James G. Bogle, Jr. (Columbia, SC), and James Douglas Coffey (Phoenix, AZ). Odette’s husband, John Michael Coffey, and one son, John Michael Coffey Jr., preceded her in death. Her legacy of her kind, gentle and giving spirit will live on in her children, grandchildren (Michael Bogle of Greenville, SC, and Stephen Coffey of Tucson. AZ), great grandchildren (Lily Grace and Emma Catherine Bogle, and Mason Frederick and Brooks Alexander Coffey) and nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held Friday, January 22, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at The Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community. The family will receive friends following the service at Still Hopes. Odette’s final resting place will be with her husband in Sierra Vista, AZ at the Fort Huachuca Post Cemetery. Her sweet, gentle and loving spirit will forever live on with all those who were blessed to have known her. Her sweet smiling face will live on to all who have had the pleasure to know her. Her family wishes to express gratitude, love and appreciation to the caring and loving staff of Still Hopes Bomar neighborhood. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Still Hopes Bomar Neighborhood. Her family will miss her smiling face and loving “Mommie hugs.” Mommie, God has you in his loving arms, we will forever have you in our hearts! Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street, is assisting the family with arrangements.