EVELYN JOSEPHINE GODFREY, 93, of Swamp Road, Richmond, died Monday, August 7, at Timberlyn Heights Extended Care in Great Barrington.
Born December 9, 1912, on a farm in Saxton's River, Vermont, the daughter of
Thomas J. and Aura Lebar Kelly, she graduated from Pittsfield High School and
Berkshire Business College. She had worked as a bookkeeper for Pittsfield Electric
Company. Their family resided at 19 South Merriam Street, Pittsfield.
She married John P. Godfrey on July 6, 1940, at St. Mark Church, and lived in Freeport, Long Island, New York. Mrs. Godfrey was an at-home mom, happily raising her children, Jo-Anne and
Johnny. She was very active with their interests and sports. She loved re-decorating her home about every three years, building cabinets and
wall units, wall papering, making slip covers hooking and braiding rugs, knitting, making
wall hangings, and painting landscape pictures. She especially loved making Jo-Anne's
ballet costumes, prom dresses, suits and coats, and Easter hats.She was very active in various religious groups at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary
Church in Roosevelt, Long Island. She had many great friends, and loved ballroom
dancing, especially with her brother, Tom.
She enjoyed summering at Richmond Pond and being close to her mother, sisters, and brothers who lived in The Berkshires. She even took up water skiing with her sister, Helen's, boat. She was endlessly cleaning fish caught by Jack trolling in his pen yan boat from dawn to dusk.
After her husband retired from the New York Telephone Company, they moved
to Richmond to enjoy country living, her family, and the grandchildren. Her husband
died in 1991 after 51 years of marriage.
She became a resident of Timberlyn Heights Extended Care in her later years
where she was well taken care of. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought
her so much joy and laughter when visiting her.
Besides her children, Jo-Anne Fairfield of West Stockbridge and John Paul, Jr., of
Anchorage, Alaska, she leaves granddaughters, Michelle, Lisa, and Amy, and grandsons,
Jeff and Sean; also, great grandchildren, Kayci, Jenna, Matthew, Jamison, and Ethan, and
several nieces and nephews.
Burial will be at St. Patrick's Cemetery and a private memorial service at a future
date. The family requests no flowers. Donations may be made to Community Heath
Association of Richmond who cared for Evelyn and Jack over the years. Arrangements
are being made at DERY FUNEAL HOME.