Patrick J. Godfrey

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Patrick J. Godfrey, 70, of Merrimack, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua after a short illness.

Patrick was born April 11, 1939, in New York, N.Y., to the late John and Mary (Graney) Godfrey of County Kerry, Ireland. As a child, Patrick lived in Clason Pt., Bronx, N.Y., where he later met and married Helen (Chase), also of the Bronx, where they lived for 44 years.

He attended Roman Catholic School, after which he attended Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y., graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a degree in English literature.

He was a member of the U.S. National Guard at Fort Dix, N.J., from 1961-67. He was employed for 38 years with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, and retired as a Chief Claims Executive.

Patrick enjoyed playing his Irish accordion for 62 years, and recently had a band with his 5-year-old great-granddaughter, MacKayla Yule.

Pat also enjoyed growing vegetables for his mother at their home in the Bronx, and continued to garden at his Merrimack home over the past 21 years.

In his life: Members of the family include his wife of 47 years, Helen M. (Chase) Godfrey, of Merrimack; one daughter, Christina Yule, of Merrimack; one son, Patrick J., and his wife, Dina Jordan Godfrey, of Merrimack; grandson Jeffrey David Yule and his wife, Jessie Charles Yule; granddaughter, Crystal Ann Yule; grandson, Shane Patrick Godfrey; great-granddaughter, MacKayla Rose Yule; four sisters, Maureen Coffey, Eileen Rogers, Rita Cullen, and Noreen Holihan, all residing in the New York/New Jersey area; one brother John Godfrey. of Scarsdale, N.Y.; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins in New York, New Jersey and Ireland.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Monday, Dec. 28, at Our Lady of Mercy Church; burial was at Last Rest Cemetery of Merrimack.

George R. Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack, handled arrangements.

For more information, or to sign an on-line guestbook, visit www.rivetfuneralhome.com.