Respected city accountant, 57, dies after short illness

Aug 6 2008 by Alex Turner, Liverpool Daily Post

THE co-founder of Liverpool accountants Hamilton-Burke Dufau, Odette Dufau, has died after a short illness.

Miss Dufau was born in Liverpool and attended Notre Dame High School and the University of Liverpool before beginning her career as a chartered accountant.

Apart from a short period living in Canada, she lived in her home city.

Miss Dufau entered into partnership with Ian Hamilton-Burke in 1991.

The firm has flourished and today employs 35 staff at its south Liverpool offices.

Its client base includes individuals, sole traders, trading and professional partnerships, owner-managed businesses ranging in size from small companies to groups with turnover in millions.

Mr Hamilton-Burke, co-founder of Hamilton-Burke Dufau, paid tribute to his colleague.

He said: “In her professional life, Odette strove for the highest standards possible but that did not prevent her from being one of those people who, in a meeting, could get to the nub of a problem not only from a technical perspective, but also with well-articulated understanding of the real concerns.

“Her clients appreciated the care and commitment she gave them over many years.”

Colleagues knew her as someone who was not afraid to stand her ground and demanded high standards.

“This determination, which shone through so strongly during the time of her final illness, went through every area of her life.”

In her leisure time, she enjoyed walking and running, and was always up for undertaking physical challenges.

Miss Dufau died on July 11, aged 57, after a short illness.

Mr Hamilton-Burke said she would be missed by the practice, her clients and colleagues, fellow professionals and most of all by her mother Josephine and brother Michael.

alex.turner