Donna Marie Godwin

April 17, 1937 - August 3, 2019
Loving Mom, Gramma, Sister, Auntie, Friend~
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Mom, Donna Marie Godwin, on Saturday, August 3, 2019. Mom is pre-deceased by our father and her husband Hugh, who loved her devotedly for 48 years. She is survived by her son Douglas and daughters Sheila (Steven) and Susan (Phil), sisters Marlene Hurry and Joanne Hampson (John), granddaughters Errin (Rob), Kristin (Tim), Kelsie (Raphael), Raelene, Jaycee, grandsons Eric and Chad, six great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Mom was born and raised in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She married Dad in 1961. Dad was in the RCMP, and they moved frequently until his retirement in 1981 when they made their final move from Biggar, SK to Sidney, BC.
Mom loved to sing and had the voice of an angel, leading more than one choir throughout her lifetime. She also loved to cook and the more people she fed, the happier she was.
Mom devoted her life to helping others, leading Girl Guides and youth groups. Her passion became her employment and in 1982 she started a 21-year career with Peninsula Community Services as the Officer Manager and Volunteer Coordinator working alongside hundreds of volunteers. She was a personal counsellor for Emergency Social Services and started the Community Response Network and the Seniors Hotline. She came to be thought of by many in the community as the heart and soul of the PCS and in 1991 she received the Outstanding Community Worker Award. She retired in 2002 and in her honour, PCS established the Donna Godwin Humanitarian Award and Scholarship, a $500 award bestowed annually on a graduating Parkland student who has demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service in school or in the community.
Following Mom's retirement, she continued to work tirelessly in the community. She was a committed member of St. Andrew's Church in Sidney and coordinated a weekly soup kitchen. Mom loved learning and at 70 began playing guitar, a lifelong dream. Above all, Mom loved to spend time with her family, no matter where we were or what we were doing, and especially when all of us were together. We will carry her forever in our hearts, and so for that reason, we will never walk alone.
The family wishes to thank the doctors and nurses in Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and the Palliative Care team at Saanich Peninsula Hospital who cared so tenderly for Mom.
Donna Marie: a smile on her face, a few hairs out of place, always in a race, how we loved her sweet face.
A celebration of life will be held for Donna Godwin on Saturday, October 12, at 2 pm at St. Andrews Anglican Church, 9691 Fourth Street, Sidney BC. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Andrews Anglican Church.