Guindolyn Judy Oddo, age 75, passed away peacefully February 6th, 2019. She was born and raised in eastern Michigan and married her longtime friend and love, Joseph Oddo. They recently celebrated 54 years together. Gwen grew up loving music and from the early age of 12 began voice lessons and later performed as a singer under her stage name Gwen Gray. As a young adult she performed local USO shows in her hometown and toured to South America with Youth for Understanding. She met the love of her life and best friend Joe in an elevator while running late to one of her gigs. Gwen and Joe eventually married. Together they performed publicly as professional musicians, including radio and local TV performances, in the Detroit area and throughout Florida after moving there in 1988.
She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, nana and encouraging friend to everyone she met. Her kind and loving nature on this earth leaves a lasting legacy. Her life was a living example of her favorite sayings: “Give all your problems to God, He’ll be up all night anyway,” “There’s always plan A, plan B, and plan C,” and “Don’t worry about things you can’t control.”
Gwen was preceded in death by her parents Harry and Leona and infant daughter Judy. She is survived by her beloved husband Joe; sons John (Anne Marie), Joe (Lorraine), and Jerome (Melanie); daughter Josette (Scott); step-daughter Joanne; sister Carolyn; brother Jim; and grandchildren Joey, Austin, MacKenzie, Hunter, Brooke, Spencer, Jackson and Stefen; many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends – all loved and touched deeply by her life.
A private family viewing was held Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 3:00-4:00 p.m. at HIERS-BAXLEY Funeral & Cremation Life Event Center, 3975 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages, FL 32162. Family and Friends gathered Sunday, February 10th, at 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Oddo House, Summerfield, FL 34491. We concluded with a graveside service which was held to celebrate her life Monday, February 11th, at 2:00 p.m. at Sea Pines Memorial Gardens, 3001 S. Ridgewood Avenue., Edgewater, FL 32141 (386) 428-8519. Sentiments may be left online at www.hiers-baxley.com.
