Obituary of E. Larbi Odei

The passing of Dr. E. Larbi Odei MB, BS, DPM, MRC Psych. of Saint John, NB, husband of Angela (Opoku-Akyeampong) Odei, occurred on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at the Saint John Regional Hospital. He was the youngest child of the late Aaron and Love (Marshall) Odei. He was educated at Adisadel College, Cape Coast, Ghana; Durham University (Newcastle-upon-Tyne Medical School); Institute of Psychiatry at The Maudsley Hospital and The University of Birmingham (Child Psychiatry). He worked in various psychiatric positions in England including as Senior Registrar at the Charles Burns Clinic and Hollymoor Hospital, Birmingham, England. He also worked as a Child Psychiatrist with The Ministry of Health, Accra, Ghana and as an Examiner at The Ghana Medical School. He moved to Canada with his family in 1981 and took up the position of Senior Psychiatrist at the Battleford Mental Health Centre, North Battleford, Saskatchewan. He relocated to Saint John as a Staff Psychiatrist in Centracare Inc. in September 1984 and worked until his retirement on December 31,2005. During that period he served in a variety of capacities, including Chief of Psychiatry, Medical Director and chaired various hospital committees, including Medical Advisory – MCA, Health Records, Quality Assurance. He was past President of New Brunswick Psychiatric Association. After his retirement he came back in April of 2006 as Staff Psychiatrist at Mental Health Services in Sussex. During his professional career he had published, "Insulin Habituation Psychopathy", British Medical Journal, 1968; researched Obsessional Neurosis and the Diagnosis of Obsessional Neurosis in Children as well as researched The Epidemiology, Incidence and Prevalance of Psychiatric Disorders of Children in Ghana. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, by a daughter Anthea Odei of Mississauga, ON; a son, Basil (Charmaine) of Whitby, ON; a sister, Ellen Asiedu – Akrofi of Ghana; three grandchildren, Esi Quaye, Marshall and Dawson Odei; several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by six siblings and a daughter, Zoe Samantha Odei in 2002. Resting at Brenan’s Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (506) 634-7424 with visiting on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Funeral service will be held from Grace Presbyterian Church, 101 Coburg St., Saint John on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 10 am. Interment will be in Fernhill Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Mind Care New Brunswick or any charity of choice.