Darlene S. O’Dell

Darlene Sue (Bruns) O’Dell, dearest wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend died all too soon, on June 15, 2017, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Darlene was born on August 4, 1944, to proud parents, Arthur(Art) and Mary Bruns. She grew up in Kansas City surrounded by family, graduating from North Kansas City High School in 1962.

She was married to the love of her life, Benjamin (Ben) O’Dell on July 25, 1964, at the ripe old age of 19.  Right before celebrating her 50th Wedding Anniversary, Darlene told a close friend, “I still feel the same excitement every time he walks through the door, yes, even after fifty years.”

Two children, Jon Eric and Christina Lynn (Christie) (Odell) Ufferman were soon born to Darlene and Ben adding even more joy to their love, and though Jon and Christie were the joy of her life, Darlene’s joy reached new heights with the addition of her grandchildren, Nikolas (Nik) and Andrew Ufferman. Darlene was also a great grandmother to Aaron Kurtz, Rachel Kurtz-Skinner and Ryan Nolan.

Darlene was greeted on arrival in heaven by her Mother, Dad and brother Don, and daughter-in-law Karon O’Dell, along with other family members and friends who predeceased her.

Darlene counted God, family and friends as her most important concerns and source of strength and happiness. She was an active member of Tower View Baptist Church serving on staff as Church Secretary for many years and providing leadership and service to numerous committees.

Family was also vitally important to Darlene. She and Ben always saw Jon and Christie as gifts, and Darlene would readily share that Ben, Jon, and Christie were her greatest treasures. Her children were blessed in her love and needed no other champion to cheer them on in good or tough times. Darlene’s care and love remained solid and “grounding” even when their growing-up years had long passed. Darlene’s love of family grew deeper with the birth of her grandchildren, Nik and Andrew. She was the one who always loved them, believed in them, and challenged them to do what is right, sharing her wisdom and modeling her faith, love, hope, and expectations for them and our world.  Whether she was creating a little boy’s dream of a Halloween costume or sewing on Boy Scout patches, Darlene loved her boys and knew that God would see their dreams fulfilled.

Darlene took seriously God’s call “to bear one another’s burdens,” as is evidenced by her many, many friends who knew they, too, were treasured gifts. Darlene did not take friendship lightly. She laughed with you, shared your tears, helped you back up, and was always there for you. She spent many hours listening and sharing with you. If you are one of her friends, you know you always left her presence feeling better, more lighthearted, and more at peace with life.

Darlene is in heaven now surrounded by God and loved ones. Yet her passing has left a grief in our hearts and an emptiness in our lives. May God’s love and grace fill your heart and overflow this emptiness as you recall your favorite memory or allow many memories to roll through your mind of times spent with Darlene. Darlene would say to all of us, “Thank you for being my Friend”.

Services will be Wednesday, June 21, at Tower View Baptist Church, 7301 NE 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64119. Visitation: 5:00-7:00 P.M. with Celebration of Life Service at 7: P.M.

It will come as no surprise that Darlene has requested no flowers at her passing, but would be honored by donations to Jeanne’s Wacky Auction to benefit families and individuals with Alzheimer’s/Dementia. Darlene had long shared Jeanne’s passion for this ministry.