Carmella Rose O'Dell

Mrs. Carmella Rose Libertino O'Dell, age 81, of 4366 Fox St., Randleman passed away Monday, May 23, 2011 at her home. Mrs. O'Dell was born on September 25, 1929 in Union Town, PA the daughter of Angelo and Mary Catherine Libertino. She enjoyed spending time with family and cooking. She was known for taking care of others and always having a kind word to say. In addition to her parents, Carmella is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond "Ray" O'Dell, brothers: Leonard, Tony, Charles, Joe, and Nick Libertino, sisters: Grace Gibson and Mary Jane Moyes. She is survived by daughter: Carlotta Thomas of Randleman, NC; niece of whom she raised Tracy Libertino-Fegarsky of Charlotte, nieces Lenora Sawyer and Wendy Markley both of Pasadena, Md. sister: Ann Trageser of Md; brother: James Libertino of Silver Springs, Fl. grandchildren: Tera Thomas, Charles Derrick Thomas, Katrina Thomas, and Angel Thomas all of Randleman; Sabrina Thomas of Union Town, PA; great grandchildren: Kevin, Shawn, and Ashley Willard all of Randleman, D.J., Knowledge, and Derrick Thomas all of Randleman; Ella Nicole Kingan of Union Town, PA; The family will receive friends Friday, May 27, 2011 from 1:00-3:00 pm at Pugh Funeral Home, 600 South Main Street, Randleman, NC. A memorial service will follow at 3:00 pm in the Chapel, with Rev. Wade Craven officiating. A Catholic Mass will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at 1:00 pm at St. Joseph's in Asheboro with Father Brandon Jones presiding followed by burial at Randolph Memorial Park, Asheboro and vigil at 4:00 pm at the home of Carmella O'Dell. Memorials may be made to Randleman Friends Meeting, 523 High Point St., Randleman, NC 27317. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com Eulogy I stand before you today as the representative of a family in grief and we are appreciative that friends have joined us to share in our mourning. We are all united not only in a desire to pay our respects to Carmella but rather in our deep need to do so. She was an extraordinary, Italian, Catholic woman who was the stitching in a quilt made up of a patchwork community of family and friends. There are those that could not be with us today but this is not reason for distress, because they are all here as she is with us…, "in spirit". Some may look at her humble life of primarily being a house wife and not see the greatness that she achieved during her 81 years. She lived a full and happy life, yet she was also a survivor who dealt with her fair share of heartaches who always had time to help those around her in their times of need. She only finished 5 years of school and her advice "to take one day at a time" did not come from something she read in a book but from the experience of everyday. Many present today knew Carmella late in life, when her physical challenges had taken away the joys of much of her day-to-day existence. As a young girl she could be found spending time with her brothers and sisters. Frequently she spoke of listening to her brother Charley sing. In the summer, she could be found in her bathing suit; or on the water with the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. Carmella was considered to be quite the catch. She could be found sewing or washing and ironing shirts to earn money to buy the items she needed. She would not go outside without her hair done, her clothes were just so and always wore classic red lipstick. Yet she was neither vain nor self absorbed. She was quite a beauty in her time with a kind heart, and as could be expected quickly found someone to love, marry and start a family. Today we are all comforted that she will be put to rest beside her late husband Ray. With the addition of her first and only daughter Carlotta her focus changed and her life revolved around the needs of her family. She wanted to be surrounded by children. She came from a family of 9 brothers and sisters but without more of her own children she fulfilled this desire by caring for many foster children, as well as, her nephew (my father Glennie) and nieces which I am proud to have been one of. ~Albert Einstein~ reminds us that, "Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us, our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life." Today Carmella leaves behind 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren that have given her the strength to go on for many years. I remember her growing up as never sitting down from morning until bedtime. You could find Carmella scrubbing floors on her hands and knees, doing laundry, caring for her mother "Mary Catherine", taking care of children or working in the kitchen. Frequently she would have dinner standing up while creating a feast for the rest of the family to enjoy; always taking care of her needs last. Most recently she would keep a stash of Reese's cups to offer and share with kids and adults alike. What many of the recipients of this treat do not know is that when she was well this was homemade peanut butter fudge and was her way of giving those around her love. It was a transition from her younger years when she created "made from scratch" desserts; cakes, pies, cookies, canned sauces and fruit jams. She made these daily, shared them freely and regardless of her situation if you entered her home you never left hungry. Carmella always had a quiet strength and a strong will with an innate ability to overcome much. Decades ago when she was diagnosed with cancer she refused to accept that she would have only months to live. The love of her family and the great desire to make certain that those around her were taken care of kept her strong in the most difficult of times. ~Steven Stiles~ reminds us that, "God made death so we'd know when to stop." Where Carmella was unwilling to leave us behind, this week, the Lord decided that it was her time. We may take solace in the teachings of the bible, in 2 Corinthians 5 we learn that our bodies are only temporary vessels and that upon our passing we will take on new heavenly bodies. In giving us the Holy Spirit He has prepared all of us with everlasting life. In 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 verses 15-17 from The Living Bible, "I can tell you this directly from the Lord: that we who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a mighty shout and with the soul-stirring cry of the archangel and the great trumpet-call of God. And the believers who are dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord. Then we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever." We were not ready for her to go but may take solace in knowing that the strength given to her by the Lord will be with us forever. Regardless of what difficulties we may be experiencing now or in the future, He will provide us the extra strength and support to overcome them. We want to thank Carmella today for her life of service to her family and friends. Thank You Carmella for your love as well as sharing your values and your way. Thank You for teaching us through your acts and works in life to find the good in everyone, to work hard, always do the best we can, and treat others as we would like to be treated. We can take comfort in knowing that Carmella passed peacefully, without pain or her mind clouded with medicine but instead surrounded by her family in her own home. I will close with the words of Friedrich Nietzche as he describes his interpretation of the most joyful way to die, To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. Death of one's own free choice, death at the proper time, with a clear head and with joyfulness, consummated in the midst of children and witnesses~ so that an actual leave-taking is possible while he who is leaving is still there.