Catherine Wilma Goddard (92) and John Stanley Goddard (94) of Calgary, Alberta (formerly Toronto, Ontario) passed away on Sunday April 7, 2024, in the presence of their immediate family and with the support of the Alberta “Medical Assistance in Dying” team.
Catherine (Graham) Goddard was born on April 16, 1931 in Peterborough, Ontario, the youngest of three children. In 1954 she graduated with a degree in fine arts from the U of T and began her new life in Toronto working at Morgan’s (now The Bay) in their advertising department.
John, also the youngest of three, was born in England on July 20, 1929. With a degree in chemistry from the University of London and three letters of introduction, John emigrated to Canada in 1952. Within days of arrival in Toronto, John began his 41-year career with Benjamin Moore, retiring in 1993 as Canada’s VP of Operations.
In December of 1956, her brother Wally set Catherine up with John for a company Christmas party. About to be transferred to Vancouver, John wasted no time and proposed to Catherine after just one further date. Four months later and madly in love, they married on April 27, 1957 and spent their honeymoon driving to their new home in Whiterock, BC.
They had three boys while living in British Columbia: Graham (1959), Richard (1961) and David (1962). Although they loved their BC life, the young Goddard family was transferred again back to Toronto in 1963, with 92 Willingdon Blvd in Etobicoke becoming their home for the next 41 years.
Over the years Catherine joined and maintained connections to many organizations including a local community television production organization, gourmet cooking, University Women’s Club of Canada, an amateur investment club, the McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg, Ontario, not to mention participation in social sports such as golf, badminton, paddleball, curling, and aquafit.
Both John and Catherine traveled and cruised extensively and loved to learn each area’s history and geography. They loved bridge and John devoured both fiction and non-fiction books throughout his life. John eagerly supported Catherine in any social activity they could do as a couple but poured his soul into maintaining the Willingdon Blvd house.
Catherine made friends for life wherever she was including childhood best friends, school friends, and organizations to which she belonged. With John, they became very close with neighbours from their house on Willingdon, their Bloor St W. condominium and finally their Fish Creek Manor condo in Calgary. They entertained, wrote, phoned and eventually zoomed with everyone. Family and friends were the core of their lives and were always giving of themselves.
After 67 years in love, John and Catherine Goddard shared a kiss and passed away together holding hands and smiling.
Catherine is predeceased by her brothers Wally, Hugh, and Hugh’s wife Nancy. John is predeceased by his sister Mary and brother Edmund. They are survived by their children Graham, his wife Audrey, granddaughter Pagé, son Richard, son David, his wife Nadine, grandsons Matthew and Brett, nephews Peter, Anthony, and nieces Susan, Martha, Dale and Nicola (and their families), and sisters-in-law Donna Graham and Barb Suter.
Catherine and John will forever be remembered as loving parents, Aunt and Uncle, Grandma and Grandpa, and true friends to anyone lucky enough to have shared part of their lives.