Odette Marie Rasch Howard, age 98, of Needham Mass, passed away on November 5, 2024. Odette was born in St. Florian, Alabama in 1926. She married Francis Howard at age 18. They had 7 children, the third of whom died shortly after birth. Francis and Odette together raised the other six children in Needham.
Odette leaves behind Frank Howard of Siver Spring, MD, Denise Tailby of Waldoboro, ME, Paul Howard of Needham , MA, Mary Howard of Cedar Rapids, IA, Anne Goldstone of Tahoe City, CA, and Edward Howard of Providence, RI. She had 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Odette worked as an executive secretary, with one of her earlier jobs at the Empire State building, and then at different companies around Boston while raising her family. She was an avid knitter, and a voracious reader. Odette remained in good health with her love for walking and swimming. Odette was smart and enjoyed creative writing, attending book club and attending plays at the Huntington theatre and at other venues in Boston.
Gifts may be made to the charity of your choice, though one suggestion might be the Needham Public Library, from which Odette borrowed countless books during her lifetime. Interment was held in St. Mary Cemetery, Needham.