Obituary: Mary E. Godding - Class of 1936

MADISON [Wisconsin] - Mary E. Godding, age 83, died on Thursday, March 8, 2001, at Four Winds Lodge in Verona, Wisconsin, after a long illness. Mary was born on June 22, 1917, to Albert Lester and Elizabeth Johanna (O'Neill) Godding in Madison. She was a lifelong resident of Madison, and a member of St. Raphael's Cathedral parish. Mary attended Longfellow School and graduated from Madison Central High School in 1936. She worked for more than 40 years for the state of Wisconsin in the Bureau of Finance before retiring in 1979. For more than 30 years until February 27, 2001, she resided at Karen Arms Apartments in Madison. Mary is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Charles Lester Les and Ruth Godding; and a sister Anne Heath, both of Verona; a sister-in-law, Tirzah (Mrs. Albert) Godding of Madison; nieces and nephews, Ruth Bongey, Donna Walter, Yvonne Lake, Delores Reynolds, Bill Godding, June Sarbacker, Gary Godding, Lori Godding, Nancy Noel and Ken Heath; and many, many great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; and also her good friend and neighbor, Janet Cramer. She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Walter and Albert (Abbey) Godding; and a nephew, Gordon Godding. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2001, at JOYCE-RYAN VERONA FUNERAL HOME, 118 N. Franklin St., with Monsignor Daniel Ganshert officiating. Burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the services on Saturday. Mary deeply loved nature - anything to do with the outdoors, plants, birds, animals and the Wisconsin countryside. In lieu of flowers, donations may be given in her name to the Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin, Dane County Chapter, 633 W. Main St., Madison, WI 53703. Joyce-Ryan Verona Funeral Home 118 N. Franklin St. (608) 845-6625

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on March 9, 2001; submitted by Michael Vahldieck (Class of 1968)