ForeverMissed
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Her Life

Teresa Catherine Godfrey

June 8, 2021

Teresa left us too soon. She was born on April 21, 1968 in Boise, Idaho to Richard and Catherine (Higgins) Godfrey. She was the third of three children Dick and Cathie would raise. When she was only five days old the family moved to Kenora, Ontario, Canada. It was the first in a series of 11 moves that would take Teresa and the family to small mill towns in Canada, Oregon, California, Louisiana, Idaho and ultimately back to Washington State where they settled.

Teresa graduated from West Valley High School, Yakima, WA in 1986 and went on to graduate from the University of Washington in 1990. She was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and enjoyed working a variety of college jobs on The Ave, attending UW sports and spending time with friends.

After college she started her career working for the Seattle YMCA district office. She met and worked with amazing people who became long-term friends. Later she worked at CBRichardEllis and then moved to Group Health/Kaiser Permanente, again building important relationships along the way. She was passionate about her work, known for being detail-oriented, smart and kind. She truly enjoyed the people she had the opportunity to work alongside.

Her greatest accomplishments and source of joy are her children, Nathan (19) and Gabrielle “Gabi” (14) Smith. She raised fantastic kids who flourished under the upbringing of a selfless mother who spent countless hours loving them, carpooling to-and-from sport practices and events, and making sure there were good meals and snacks on hand.  She was always prepared — snacks, rain gear, extra chairs and a smile. Nathan is a rising sophomore at University of Kansas in Lawrence. Gabi is a very accomplished volleyball player and recent 8th grade grad from Our Lady of Guadalupe in West Seattle. The OLG school, church and community have been a source of strength and support for Teresa and the kids over the past 15 years. Gabi will attend Seattle Preparatory in the Fall, following in her brothers’ and cousins’ footsteps.

Along with her children, Teresa is survived by her mother Catherine Mary Higgins Godfrey, her sister Mollie Godfrey Jensen, brother-in-law Kris Jensen and nephews Aidan and Luke. She now joins her father Dick and brother Richard Michael Godfrey.

We are celebrating her life in a private memorial at Our Lady of Guadalupe on June 18.