Peggy O'Dea

June 28, 1950 - December 30, 2020

Peggy O’Dea, 70, of Kearney, passed away, December30, 2020 at C.H.I. Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Memorial services will be 10:30 am, June 25, 2021 at St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Joseph Hannappel officiating. The service will be livestreamed and can viewed at https://stjameschurchkearney.org/ Casual attire for the service is requested by the family. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Kearney Public Schools Foundation, Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation, or the Help Care Clinic. Peggy was born June 28, 1950 in Grand Island, Nebraska to Alex and Des (Demakes) Poullos. She graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1968 and Kearney State College in 1973. Peggy married Tim O’Dea on June 15, 1974 in Grand Island, NE. They were blessed with two daughters, Megan and Kate. Peggy took great joy in her career as an elementary school teacher for 37 years, teaching at Wood River Elementary and Emerson Elementary in Kearney. She retired in 2010. While teaching she was active in local, state, and national educational organizations. Following her retirement, Peggy continued as a community volunteer serving on the boards of Kearney Public Schools Foundation (served as chair), Good Samaritan Hospital Foundation (served as chair), and Buffalo County Community Partners (serving as co-chair). She volunteered at Good Samaritan Hospital and was an active member of St. James Catholic Church where she helped count the Sunday collection every Monday morning for ten years. Peggy was also an active member of PEO Chapter GG in Kearney. She loved the Kearney community and it loved her right back. Peggy had many hobbies she loved including quilting & sewing, cooking for others, playing bridge, tending to her flowers, decorating, and lunching with her friends. Together, Tim & Peggy enjoyed road tripping around the country to various destinations, but her favorite was Omaha to see her grandkids. Peggy’s greatest joy in life was being ‘YiaYia’ to Rex and Poppy. Nothing made her happier than getting to shop for them and read and cuddle during their visits. Peggy is survived by her husband, Tim O’Dea of Kearney; daughters, Megan and Brian Jenkins of Omaha, NE, Kate O’Dea of Omaha, NE; grandson, Rex Jenkins of Omaha, NE; granddaughter, Poppy Terhaar of Omaha, NE; brother, George and Jody Poullos of Omaha, NE. Peggy was preceded in death by her parents.