Juanita "Nita" Irene O'Dea

 Juanita Irene O’Dea, age 72 of Wellsville, Kansas passed away Thursday, July 2, 2026 at Wellsville Health and Rehab. Funeral services will be 10AM, Thursday, July 9, 2026 at the Wellsville United Methodist Church. Visitation will be 6-8PM, Wednesday, July 8 at Wilson’s Funeral Home. Interment will follow services in the Oakwood Cemetery in Baldwin City, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pleasant Valley Community Club, the Wellsville United Methodist Church, or the Wellsville Historical Society in care of Wilson’s, PO Box 486, Wellsville, KS 66092.

Juanita Irene O’Dea was born December 7, 1953 in Ottawa, Kansas, the third of seven children born to Kenneth Patrick O’Dea, Sr. and Juanita Maybelle Benham. She started school at LeLoup, Kansas where she attended through 1965 and then moved to the Wellsville schools after consolidation efforts, graduating in 1972. Nita was an invested participant in the alumni banquet for the USD 289 Wellsville schools where she made connecting with her peers a priority.

Nita was a compassionate and loyal person with strong caretaking skills. Following her graduation from high school, she demonstrated those caretaking skills by caring for area elderly individuals. She was the primary caretaker for her mother and maternal grandmother. She also provided daycare services for neighbors, family and friends. Nita worked as a nursery/preschool attendant for the Wellsville United Methodist Church for over 35 years. Her final employment was time spent as a laundry aide at Wellsville Heath and Rehab.

In 1990, descendants of the John and Juanita Benham family initiated a family gathering every other year to create and maintain strong family ties. Those gatherings included travel memories to Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Colorado.

Susan and Nita relocated from LeLoup to Wellsville in 1997. They were happy and excited to be roommates for nearly 30 years. They loved their cats who were a special part of their household.

Nita was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 10 years old. She was a two-time colon cancer survivor. In recent years, she battled several heart related concerns. She remained resilient, tolerant and strong as new health challenges surfaced. The family is thankful for the care and support received from the Advent Health and Wellsville Health & Rehab communities. When discussing her health and outlook on life, one of her favorite responses was, “I passed with flying colors.” As a lasting tribute to our loved one, we collectively agree that she did encompass and live life on her terms, passing with flying colors.

Nita is survived by her siblings: Sheryl Byers (Jim) of Denver, CO; Rose O’Dea of Wellsville, KS; Patricia Johnson (David) of Wellsville, KS; Tim O’Dea (Sharla) of Wellsville, KS; and Susan O’Dea of Wellsville, KS; nieces and nephews: Jennifer Cole of Normal, IL; Andrew Johnson (Tori) of Wichita, KS; Rebecca Romero of Shawnee, KS; Emily Taylor (Jeff) of Wellsville, KS; Erin Smith (Miles) of Wichita, KS; Hannah Lyman (Clint) of Ottawa, KS; and Lauren Overton (Colton) of Wellsville, KS; great nieces and nephews: Eddie, Owen, Olivia, Wesley, Kenleigh, Brecklyn, Parker, Mariana, Diego, Nora, Landon, Hazel, Logan, Nolan and Emersyn.

Nita is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Kenny (1956).

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