Antoinette M. Godrick

Antoinette Marie (Tade) Godrick peacefully passed away on December 24, 2020, at Rutland Regional Medical Center in Rutland, VT, following a longsuffering, painful compromised breathing condition that happened on December 13, 2020. She was surrounded by her family for the duration until she passed.

Antoinette Godrick's life was dedicated to serving God and church first, loving her husband Chet and family, maintaining her home meticulously, giving as much as she could to others in need.

Antoinette was born on January 11, 1932 in Rutland, VT at the former Rutland Hospital location at 46 Nichols Street. She was the daughter of Antonia Caterina Bianchi and John B. Tade of West Rutland, VT. During her childhood she was" Antoinette" to most people; to her family and many friends she was "Anty;" today she's familiarly known as "Toni Godrick."

Antoinette attended West Rutland Elementary School and graduated from West Rutland High School in 1950. She was the quiet, reserved, studious type of teenager whose primary concern was a fervent love for her parents Antonia and John as well as looking after her younger sister Jacqueline. As a senior, she boldly decided to enter a public prize speaking contest; her topic and title was"Oscarina Chooses a Hat." Antoinette won the prize speaking contest.

At age 16, Antoinette babysat and worked at a book shop on Marble Street in West Rutland; this shop later became known as Amsden's, then Luke's place. Antoinette later worked in retail at Woolworth's in Rutland. She loved to sew and became a perfectionist seamstress over the years, making much of her own clothing, curtains, pillows, and, later, her daughters' clothing. Later, as a stay-at-home "Super Mom Toni," her passion for sewing brought her to work at The Fabric Mill in Rutland; there she was in her glory with bolts of colourful and printed fabrics, threads, and patterns---cIeariy afew of "her favourite things." And she "sewed on" to her heart's content.

She had (has) a dear friend Lucy Lee (Smyrski) who asked "Anty" to be a bridesmaid for the first time in her life; of course, she accepted the invitation most graciously. The gorgeous pink bridesmaid gown was extremely expensive back then; so Anty worked extra, saved her money, but was $5.00 short when it came time to pay for it. However, at age 18, she'd met Chester Peter Godrick, her one very handsome beau and future husband, who she seriously dated until they married on July 13, 1952. "Chet," as he became known, paid that extra $5.00 for that elegant pink gown enabling her to fashionably don it, looking stunningly beautiful in her best girlfriend's wedding. Antoinette was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside ... just beautiful.

Following her marriage to Chet Godrick, Antoinette became familiarly known at "Toni" to many people. Eventually they bought --- and Chet remodeled=-thetr 81 Clarendon Avenue, West Rutland, VT home. Toni loved living in West Rutland, especially right next door to her parents! Toni and Chet had three children: Mary, Sharon, and Chet Godrick Jr ... and dogs: Butchie, Duke, Ring, Cujo, the Buddies, plus a few cats: Garfield(s). Both Toni and Chet loved their children so much as well as their pets. Both were exceptional parents to their children and pets; they became wonderful grandparents as well. For as long as she was able, Toni made it a priority to travel to Millersville to visit their son Chet, his wife Kathy, three grandchildren, Billy, Peter, and Kayla.

"Toni" was an active member of St. Bridget's Catholic Church in West Rutland, volunteering many years as a catechism teacher, choir member, Sodality member, and prayer group member. Toni gave so much financially, spiritually, and devotedly from her heart to that church for decades, always cooking extra food for many less fortunate families from the church and West Rutland. She and Dad Chet reliably and daily drove certain St. Bridget's Church members to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. She regularly made it her priority to visit "the shut-ins"--- homebound and nursing home members and friends, one year even buying poinsettias for everyone at Genesis Eldercare on Haywood Avenue in Rutland VT, where her husband Chet Godrick resided short- term.

Toni was an amazing cook who, 100% of the time, prepared extra meals so she could give them to someone else who was hungry, someone whose family member had passed away, someone who was celebrating a birthday. She, and Chet, her husband, would often be secret Santa shoppers for special neighborhood children who they knew wouldn't get Christmas gifts ... and personally deliver these gifts anonymously every time. Toni (and Chet) exemplified true Christian living, leaving that legend to-their children. Teni loved both singing and listening to' Christian music; it was her passion, She Ioved listening to' both of her daughters play piano for her ... right to' the end.