Marie Therese Godwin

01/18/2004

Marie Therese Godwin, 65, of 445 Devon Road died Sunday morning at home. Born in Kingston, N.Y., on Jan. 31, 1938, daughter of William J. and Gertrude Falvey O'Reilly, she was a 1955 graduate of St. Ursula's Academy in Kingston. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in English in 1959 from Marymount College in Tarrytown, N.Y. She also attended the University of London, England, from 1957 to 1958. In 1981, she earned a master's degree in psychology from Westfield State College. She also earned a doctor of philosophy in social welfare from the State University of New York at Albany in 1996. She had been awarded several scholarships, was on the dean's list and received awards for poetry, writing, Latin and speaking. She was the founder and director of the Montessori School and co-founder of the Yamaha School of Music, both in Schenectady, N.Y., in the 1960s. Mrs. Godwin was a mental health specialist at the Community Services Institute in Springfield, and had held various counseling positions during her career. She first worked as an English teacher at Onteora High School, Boiceville, N.Y., and had also taught at Jamesville Dewitt High School in Fayetteville, N.Y. She had been a substitute teacher at Lenox High School. Her community involvement included drama, art and various educational groups. She and her husband, John T. Godwin of Ballston Spa, N.Y., were married in 1961. Besides her husband, she leaves two sons, John A. Godwin of Pittsfield and Timothy M. Godwin of Lee; a daughter, Brigette Godwin Young of Belchertown; a brother, Timothy O'Reilly of Leesburg, Va.; three sisters, Patricia Murphy and Margaret Paulson, both of Kingston, N.Y., and Mary Elizabeth Troy of Goshen, N.Y., and five grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Marie Godwin will be Wednesday at 9:15 from KELLY FUNERAL HOME in Lee, with a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10 at St. Mary's Church in Lee. Burial will be Thursday at 11 at St. Mary's Cemetery in Kingston, N.Y. Visiting hours will be Tuesday from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, friends wishing may make donations to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge in care of the funeral home, 3 Main St., Lee, MA 01238. Her life was especially blessed by her grandchildren, Alana and Cailin Young of Belchertown, and Rachel, Lucas and Kyle Godwin of Pittsfield. She loved them all so dearly. She also leaves her son-in-law, Garry Young, and her daughter-in-law, Kelly Godwin of Pittsfield. She was predeceased by her brothers, William J. and John J. O'Reilly. Her families' lives have been graced by her love.

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