BRADFORD: Joseph H. Godfrey, 67, died unexpectedly Monday, August 17, 2009 in the Merrimack Valley Hospital. He was the husband of the late Sara Betty (White) Godfrey who died in February 2007.
Born in Chelsea on December 20, 1941, he was the son of the late Joseph S. and Catherine E. (French) Godfrey. He was a graduate of Chelsea High School class of 1960. He has resided in Chelsea for many years before moving to Bradford twenty-two years ago.
Joe was employed as a maintenance technician for the General Electric Company in Lynn and Everett for over twenty-five years before retiring in 2007. He was also a self-employed licensed plumber for many years.
He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus in Chelsea. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, listening to country music and especially spending time with his beloved grandchildren.
He is survived by his four stepchildren, Tina M. and her husband, Jeff Harrington and Tracey McCormick all of E. Hampstead, NH, John A. Coombes of Georgetown and Barry T. Coombes and his wife, Georgia of Lowell, three sisters, Mary Jane Gildea of Winthrop, Catherine Raso of Everett and Ellen Godfrey of Chelsea, a brother, Jack and his wife, Patricia Godfrey of Winthrop, ten grandchildren, Stefanie, Ashley, Emily, Jessie, Derek, Brandon, Molly, Nicholas, Tabitha and Morgan, his beloved German Shepherd, "Bailey" and several nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by a brother, Thomas Godfrey.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday in the Sacred Hearts Church, 165 South Main St., Bradford at 10:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Friday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Avenue, Haverhill from 4 - 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Sacred Hearts Church, 48 South Chestnut St., Bradford, MA 01835 or to the charity of one's choice. Entombment will be privately held in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.