Obituary of Bernice Nellie O'Dell

The family of Bernice Nellie (Carr) O'Dell sadly announces she passed away on July 7, 2026 at White Rapids Nursing Home in Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick. She was born on August 8, 1942 to Bliss and Lena (Howe) Carr in Geary, New Brunswick.

Bernice had a good childhood, attending a one-room schoolhouse in Geary, NB until grade 10, when she began to work in the kitchen at Base Gagetown. She married the love of her life, Norman MacDonald, whom she knew was "the one" because he was special not only to her but also to her children. Bernice waited 50 years to get her driver's license, but once she did, she said it was one of the biggest life changers she'd ever experienced. 

Bernice will be remembered for her dedication to her family, her hospitality, and her kindness. Her love language was food, and if you were privileged enough to be on the receiving end of her homemade bread or a batch of fresh, homemade doughnuts, you knew that love was baked into every single bite.

Her children and grandchildren were the most meaningful things to her, and she loved sharing stories of them and other memories with her friends. Bernice had an amazing sense of humour, and said if her friends could use one word to describe her, it would be "nut". In her spare time, she enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, paint-by-numbers, and colouring with gel pens.

She will be forever missed by her children, Dennis O'Dell (Tracey) of Geary, NB, Shauna O'Dell (Mike) of Hardisty, Alberta, and Tanya Atkinson (Rick) of Petawawa, Ontario; bonus sons, John MacDonald (Anette), and Mike MacDonald, both of ON; grandchildren, Terri-Anne (Cody), Jillena (Joe), Baylee, Caleb, and Hannah; great-grandchildren, Ayla, Paisley, Joey, Nathan, Autumn, Hendrix, and Harper, as well as many nieces, nephews, and her church family.

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her beloved husband and her brothers, Deverent (Sylvia), Berlyn (Mabel), and Fayne (Ruth).

Visitation will take place at the Oromocto Funeral Home on Sunday, July 12, 2026 from 2:00-4:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at the United Pentecostal Church of Geary on Monday, July 13, 2026, beginning at 1:00 pm, with Pastor Lloyd Taylor officiating.  Following the service, Bernice will be laid to rest in the Geary, French Lake, Waterville Memorial Cemetery in Geary, NB. Friends and family will gather at the Geary Lion's Club for a reception after the interment. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a charity close to the donor’s heart would be appreciated.