Laurette May Odani's Obituary
71 of Pearlcity, Hawaii, passed away November 18, 2020 peacefully at her home. She was born to the late Yan and Yee Tsue March 24, 1949, San Francisco, California. She graduated high school fall of 1966 from George Washington High School. She also attained her Associates Degree from Leeward Community College in 2011. In her younger years she was a telephone operator and after her diagnosis she worked hard to become a mental health service coordinator. She loved to play tennis and help disabled people.
Laurette was married to Lawrence S. Odani in 1968 and she is survived by her sister Marie Ng, brother Nathan Tsue, Her sons Sean, Mark, and Scottie, her daughter Crystelyn, and her grandchildren Liz, Kiana, Xen, Kristen, Cara, and Alina.
Laurette was a guardian, a kind and loving mother, a community service volunteer, and she fought for what she believed in, but also tells it like it is. In her younger days she helped Grandma and Grandpa Tsue guard the family store and warded off any troublemakers. But as a mom she would take me to the movies and bought me tootsie rolls, took me around the island on the bus, and got a plate lunch. Even though she did not make a lot of money she knew how to pinch the pennies and still have fun. Though she had mental illness she did her best to maintain her relationship with her family to include her brother and sister. She showed them in her own way and loved them very much. Laurette was also incredibly happy to be blessed with so many grandchildren. She was happy to meet them all and cherished every moment she was able to spend with them.
After being diagnosed with her mental disability she sought ways to give back to the community that gave so much to her. She worked hard and was able to serve as a Mental Health Service Coordinator to help others like her. She taught them coping skills, stress management, and coordinated potlucks for birthdays and holiday gatherings. Laurette not only helped people with mental illness she fought for them when the politicians were trying to take away funding from Hawaii Disability Rights Center who supported disabled people. On February 12, 2008 she wrote an email to the Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives. She asked him to “vote NO on House Bill 3352.” Laurette had a strong personality and a straightforward attitude and tells you like it is. If, she thought you were pulling her leg she would tell you to stop lying. I remember my mom telling me to slow down or to stop pushing her to go faster. She said, “Scott I’m not as young as you are SLOW DOWN!” But she also, provided praise and appreciation as she saw fit. My mom told me “Good Job” when I graduated from high school and said “you raised good kids, they are respectful and kind.” Her personality, straightforward attitude, and praise guided me and helped me grow as a man, as a mentor, and as a father, thank you.
Laurette was not dealt the best hand in life, but she definitely made the best of it. She did not let mental illness control her or define her. She learned to control it and spent her life the way she wanted to live. Caring for her children, providing public service, fighting for what she thought was right, and telling you as she sees it. Laurette thank you for being a guardian, a loving mother, a caring friend, an advocate, and telling it like you see it. You will be missed, but not forgotten. May you be reunited with your mom, dad, and brother and to live without illness and enjoy happiness for the rest of your days, we love you and may you rest in peace.
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