Anne Godfrey
1922-2020
Godfrey, Anne
Cameron
One week before her 98th birthday, on
Saturday, July 11, 2020, Anne Cameron Godfrey passed away at the
Village of Riverside Glen with her longtime friend Deborrah Hadwen at
her side. She passed quietly, as she lived, with dignity and
grace. Anne was the beloved wife of the late Gerry (1975)
and loving mother of the late Lorian McCleary
(1971).
She is fondly remembered by her nephew, Brian Clarke of
Barbados, nieces Kathy Clarke of Toronto and Elizabeth Monk of
England, great niece and nephew, Dr. Emily Monk and Nick Monk, her
sister-in-law Barbara, niece Maureen Beddome and nephew David Beddome
and their families. Special thoughts go out to her former son-in-law,
Ken McCleary, his wife Wendy and their children, Gerry and Martha as
they mourn “Lady Anne”. Anne will be
missed by countless friends and all those who were lucky enough to
know her.
She was born Anne Beddome in Fernie, BC. We were
regularly told the only peaches worth eating, were grown in the
Okanagan. Anne lived most of her childhood in
Vernon. She met and married her beloved husband, Gerry
Godfrey in 1944.
The Godfrey’s settled in Guelph in 1960 where they
raised their daughter, Lorian. In 1971, a tragic accident in
Toronto, took Lorian from them and her husband, Ken
McCleary. Anne had the support of many dear friends on whom
she leaned during those difficult years.
Anne was an extremely active volunteer in Guelph.
In 1996, the YM/YWCA honoured her as the first recipient of the Women
of Distinction Award “Community Life”. She
was nominated and received the Mayor’s Award for Excellence
in Volunteering and Leadership in 2018. During the
presentation Mayor Cam Guthrie, said, “Guelph is the city we
know today, largely because of Anne Godfrey”.
A member of City Council for six terms, she was the
first woman to chair the Financial Committee. Anne worked
tirelessly with varied interests: She was on the team that
founded the United Way. Anne also chaired the committee that
established the River Run Centre. She served on many Boards
including the School Board, Homewood Health Center, CMHA, to name a
few. She was involved with the Children’s Aide,
MS, CFUW, Big Sisters, Guelph Arts Council and Women in Crisis, among
others. Her accomplishments and committees were too numerous to
mention all of them, but let it be known that she was a formidable
woman.
She was passionate about news, politics and her
friends. She played bridge well into her
90’s. She loved ice cream and chocolate, often
marveling that even after a good meal, she always was able to find
room for both. She was determined (some may call stubborn), focused
and considerate, all while maintaining her sense of
humour.
Anne had recently been receiving excellent care from her team
in the Erin Neighbourhood at Riverside Glen, Longterm Care Home. Anne
now joins Gerry, Lorian, Jean, John, Marg, Betty, Hamish, Bambi, Ted,
Ken, Bill and the rest of the people who have been waiting for
her. We will miss her.
Due to the difficulties resulting from Covid, she was not
able to fulfill her longtime wish to donate her body to
Research. There will not be a service, but I know she would
love it if you chose to support the United Way in your community, in
her memory.
Arrangements entrusted to GILCHRIST
CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi
Street, Guelph, (519-824-0031). We
invite you to leave your memories and donations online at: www.gilchristchapel.com
and they will be forwarded to the family.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Anne Godfrey 19222020..
Death notice for the town of: Guelph, Province: Ontario