Theresa P. O’Dea, a Longtime Poughkeepsie Resident, Dies at 85

FISHKILL – Theresa P. O’Dea, a local area resident since 2002, died on Monday, February 5, 2018 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. She was 85.
Daughter of the late Edward and Margaret (Monaghan) White, she was born in Glasgow, Scotland on December 15, 1932. She came to the United States at the age of 20.
On April 22, 1957, she married Patrick J. O’Dea at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in New Rochelle. For 40 years, they resided in Mamaroneck, where they raised their family.
While in her late 50s, Theresa decided to enroll in classes at the College of New Rochelle. In 1991, she received a B.S. in Psychology. In 1992 she moved to Ireland and resided for ten years. During that time, she became actively involved with the local community, church parish and the Legion of Mary.
A member of St. Mary, Mother of the Church in Fishkill, Theresa was a devout Catholic who attended Mass daily. She belonged to several prayer groups and took many pilgrimages throughout the world to visit various shrines and miracle locations.
Theresa was an accomplished musician who loved to sing, dance, and play the guitar. She was an amazing storyteller and had an incredible sense of humor. She always enjoyed being with her family & friends, and will be remembered for her generous spirit and contagious laugh.
After 60 years of marriage, Patrick survives at home in Fishkill.
Additional survivors include her seven children: Patrick O’Dea, Jr. of Hyde Park, Thomas O’Dea of Beacon, Kevin O’Dea of Fishkill, Margaret O’Dea of Beacon, Paul O’Dea of Brookfield, CT, Gerald O’Dea & his wife Jennifer of Weatogue, CT, and Kathleen O’Dea Beaver & her husband Ian of Bethel, CT; her grandchildren, Aidan O’Dea, Conor O’Dea, Caitlin O’Dea, Cecilia O’Dea, Schuyler Chubet, Bridget Beaver, Campbell Beaver, and Jerred Beaver; her sisters, Mary Neil of Mamaroneck and Kathleen Bergman & her husband Carl of Mamaroneck; and many nieces, nephews, and other loving relatives & friends.
Theresa was predeceased by her parents as well as two brothers, Edward and Thomas White.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, February 9th at the McHoul Funeral Home of Fishkill, Inc. 1089 Main Street, Fishkill. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday, February 10th at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, 106 Jackson Street, Fishkill. Interment will follow at St. Joachim – St. John the Evangelist Parish Cemetery, 325 Washington Avenue, Beacon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities USA, P.O. Box 17066, Baltimore, MD 21297-1066; www. catholiccharitiesusa.org
For directions and online tributes, you can visit Theresa’s Book of Memories at www.mchoulfuneralhome.com.