Mary O'Dea

Mary Florence Nowak O'Dea, age 88, a resident of Ferndale, formerly of Detroit, died September 8, 2010 in Royal Oak. She was born January 20, 1922 in Toledo, OH. Mrs. O'Dea attended Sacred Heart grade school and high school, and then Marygrove College in Detroit. She worked for Delta Airlines in the 1960's, and then for the Michigan Employment Security Commission until her retirement in 1988. She is survived by her children, Anne Marie John Duane of Royal Oak, Michael Patrice O'Dea of Tulsa, OK, Edward Charlotte O'Dea of Trenton and Thomas Margaret O'Dea of Rochester Hills; sister, Dorothy Polkowski of Walled Lake; and 10 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman O'Dea, on August 31, 1964; parents, Edward J. and Claire K. Nowak; sister, Claire Nowak; and brother-in-law, Stanley Polkowski. The visitation will be Friday 3-8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. scripture service at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 705 W Eleven Mile Road 4 blks. E of Woodward, Royal Oak. Mrs. O'Dea will lie in state Saturday 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass 10 a.m. at St. James Catholic Church in Ferndale, with the Rev. Steven Wertanen officiating. The burial will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Memorials to the Capuchins, 1820 Mt. Elliott Street, Detroit, MI 48207. Share your memories at www.sullivanfuneraldirectors.com.