VALE - Ms. Odette James

The Glenroy College community is deeply saddened by the recent passing of our much-loved friend and colleague, Odette James, who died surrounded by family on 5th September 2026, following a battle with cancer.

Odette joined our college in 2020, providing Literacy and Numeracy support to our Year 7 and 8 students. She was an incredibly positive presence throughout her time at our school, known for her optimism, her infectious smile and her razor-sharp sense of humour that could make anyone else laugh. She had an incredible knack for knowing when her students had arrived at school and tracking them down for their intervention sessions.

In December 2023, Odette was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Odette brought the same determination to her battle with disease as she did to raising her children and her work with our students. Many times, throughout her illness, people commented on how well she seemed, how strong she was and how cheerful she remained. 

She was devastated towards the end of Term 1 2025 when medical advice recommended she stop working to focus on her health, but she did so to focus on making lifelong memories with her family. They experienced many parts of Victoria and Australia during periods when Odette was well enough to travel. Odette loved working with our students and staff so much that, earlier this year, when she was well enough, she returned one day per week to volunteer, supporting in our Year 10 MYLNS class and working with some of our Year 7s.

Odette will be remembered by those who knew and worked with her for her seemingly limitless positivity and kindness, the joy she brought through her interactions with others and her perpetual hope.  

Our thoughts are with her husband, Darren, and her children, Etienne, Zavian and Oran, as they come to terms with this loss.