Odette Doering, 89; French Teacher at Greenwich Academy

Odette Genevieve Gillot Doering, of Riverside and a former French teacher, died on Wednesday, Nov. 13. She was 89. 

Born in Soudé Notre Dame (Marne), France on January 30, 1924, Odette was the daughter of the late George and Lucienne Gillot of Paris, France.

Odette earned her Baccalaureate from the Université de Paris where she studied Early Childhood Education. At the end of World War II, Odette traveled to Bonn, Germany where her father, a director of La Banque de France, had been relocated to work with the restructuring of the German banking system through the Marshall Plan. While in Bonn, Odette worked as an aide with the French Diplomatic Corps. During this time, she met her future husband, Dr. Eckart George Doering.

In 1953, the couple and their infant son sailed from Europe to the United States to embark upon their new life together. In their Riverside home of 55 years, Eckart and Odette created a life full of happiness, love, friendship, delicious food, and a delightful mix of French, German, and American culture and spirit.

Odette was a French teacher at Greenwich Academy and an active member of the Alliance Française of Greenwich, where she later became its President. Odette was a devout Catholic who embraced the services at St. Catherine of Siena, St. Michael and St. Clement churches. Odette remained devoted to her native France, its cuisine and traditions but her true love and devotion was for her husband Eckart of 60 years and her family.

She is survived by her three children: Patrick Doering and wife Laurie of Norwalk; Peter Doering and wife Amy of Darien; Beatrice Doering Shea and husband Christopher of Weston, MA; and her nine grandchildren: Alex, Elyssa, Grace, Austin, Sophie, Spencer, Natalie, Peter and Luke; and her brother Pierre Gillot and sister, Françoise Gillot of France.

A private family service will be held in the Chapel at St. Catherine's of Siena in Riverside.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Odette's name to the Alliance Française of Greenwich, 299 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.