Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
Beloved husband of Mary Godefroid (nee Tabash) for 51 years; loving father of Marla (Joe) Wokurka, William (Michelle) Godefroid III, Maria (Evan) Adair, Marissa (Patrick) Steinhoff, Marcia (Michael) Neiman, Rev. Eddie Godefroid; adoring grandfather of Anna, Elizabeth, Mary, Gabriella, Emily, Christopher, Anthony, Isabel, Nicholas, Gabriel, Cole, Kate, Caroline, Charlotte, Landon, Mya, Connor, Anderson and the late Paige; cherished brother of Eugene (Michele) Godefroid and the late Raymond (surviving Janice) and Paul Godefroid; dear brother-in-law of Edward (Nancy) Tabash, Kathy (Tom) Cusumano, Patty (Dave) Coverstone and Nancy (Jim) Carter. Our dearest uncle, great-uncle, cousin, friend and coach.
Funeral from Kutis Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois Rd. 63123 on Tuesday, October 3 at 10:00 am. to St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church for 10:30 am. Mass. Interment at Resurrection Cemetery. in lieu of flowers contributions to St. Mary’s High School Coach Godefroid Scholarship Fund appreciated. Visitation Monday, October 2 from 3-8 pm.
Mary,
We extend our deepest sympathies to you and your family. May the soul of your beloved Bill be at peace with our Heavenly Father. Praying your Faith in God will provide comfort and peace.
God Bless all of you,
Tom & Barb Scheve
Mary and family, you are in my heart and prayers. Your family is Bill’s gift and tours. May you feel the grace of love in this time. Peace
The major Welcome home party is still happening and I expect will continue for ever. What a beautiful life and family. Prayers are flowing and will continue. Much thanksgiving for wonderful neighbors, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
Mary and Family,
I was so touched to see Bill at mass, oxygen tank and all. His devotion to Jesus was so apparent. I believe that my husband Rex and Bob Althoff have already warmly welcomed him into heaven.
I pray for you and your family as you grieve. God has a purpose for those left behind.
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary and Family,
I was so touched to see Bill at mass, oxygen tank and all. His devotion to Jesus was so apparent. I believe that my husband Rex and Bob Althoff have already warmly welcomed him into heaven.
I pray for you and your family as you grieve. God has a purpose for those left behind.
Your Sister in Christ,
Sandy
He was my big brother and will be missed greatly. God bless him and all of his family.
There’s not many people that can say they’ve influenced so many lives, but Bill didn’t need the internet or text to do just that—he was an original at being an influencer par excellent …
Love you brother
Gene
Family of Coach Godefroid
Sending our condolences for your family loss of Coach.
Thank you Coach
Joe Humiston and family
Thoughts and Prayers to Bill, Michelle and the rest of the family in this time of need. May you cherish the memories.
We have been blessed to have the Godefroids (Bill, Mary, Marla, Maria, Marissa, Marcia, Billy and Eddy) as neighbors. Your family is in our prayers. God bless you.
He was a great teacher. An wonderful coach and an even better human being! I am blessed to have played for him and gad him as a teacher! RIP Coach!
Mary and family –
So very sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. Our son, Joe, had him for Religion at St. Mary’s, and he was as great a coach as he was a teacher. May your many wonderful memories help you through this.
Had the pleasure of working with Bill at St Mary’s during the early 2,000’s. A true gentleman, who cared deeply for his students & athletes. A dedicated teacher , and co-worker. My sympathy to the family and his many friends
Mary and members of the Godefroid family, praying for all at this time of great loss. He is now at peace and your special prayer connection. 🙏
Just a wonderful man. One of the true greats! Coach made learning so much fun whether it was in the classroom or on the field. We were fortunate to have him as a teacher and coach.
Eternal Rest, Coach, safely in the arms of Our Lady and Jesus!
What a great guy, the best teacher I ever had. Bill really knew how to connect with his students and made learning fun. Bill had a positive impact on so very many people, he was truly one of a kind. I’m grateful to have known Bill and I will never forget him. Rest In Peace Bill
Bill will be missed. Your brother Paul always talked highly of Bill’s family. He enjoyed visiting Bill’s home and family on Sundays. God “Bless” to All
We lost one of the good guys.
Sending our condolences from The Frederick family. Coach was a wonderful man. He did a great job helping mold boys into men at St. Mary’s High School.
Dear Mary, I have very fond memories of your husband from our seminary days together. He was a joy to be with and his goodness always shined during our years together. I am sure that his joy is complete now.
May God comfort and bless you and your children especially during this time of loss. May your love and memories give you peace and hope to live on in his love.
It was like yesterday to hear “Coach’s high pitched voice, ” that was you man Nicks you’ve got to fire out from that 3 point stance! ” Come on Let’s Go! Coach Godfroid was my first introduction into High School Football. He used to play chess with guys in the early mornings which we would tend to lose. Yet then he was still Coaching us if it wasn’t sports or games it was life and securing our faith in God! Oddly enough he coached me, my oldest son, and my younger son! St. Mary’s has lost a very special, but your not forgotten COACH! I’ll get him next time!
Just a Football player 1982.
Dear Mary and Family,
I offer my prayers and sympathy at the death of your beloved Bill. I pray that God will bless Bill with full peace and happiness now in Heaven. What a journey of Faith he has run and accomplished! How many lives he touched in that race!
What a Faith-filled gentleman Bill was, as you know so well.
I pray for Jesus and Mary to bring you much comfort and strength in this time of loss and death.
I will offer Mass for Bill
Mary,
I am so sad to hear of Bill’s passing. I know he must have been as loving and caring as you are Mary. My prayers for you and your family at this difficult time.
God Bless, Bill.
Mary,
So sorry to hear about Bill’s death. I have many memories of him accompanying you to ND events. It was always a joy to talk with him. My prayers are with you and your family.
Please accept our condolences. We children of lesser gods who for time (tried to) teach and coach, beside Bill “Coach” Godefroid remember a kind man, a wonderful teacher, an encouraging coach, and an inspired family man. Prayers from ours to you his family for his journey from the Community of faith to Communion of Saints.
Dear Mary and family,
We are so sorry for your loss. Bill was such a kind, generous,
Faith-filled man. We were always so happy to see him at St. Mary’s gatherings. Mark loved working with him! Bill was a man the young men of St Mary’s could look up to and aspire to be like. He left
Behind legacy unsurpassed in dignity and graciousness as he struggled with his illness. Always a smile, and few, if any, complaints.
His family was blessed by his love, devotion, example, and many lessons he taught them through his life.
Our prayers and love are with you all.
To the family of Coach Godefroid,
I am truly sorry for your loss. May he rest in peace. Coach was a great man. I had hom as a teacher at St. Mary’s. He always treated me with respect and could make me laugh. My favorite story about him was when he was teaching marriage class. He was sitting on the front of his desk and said the following ” Men, marriage is all about compromise. When I got married my wife wanted 4 children. I wanted 2 children. So we compromised and had 6 children.” The whole class broke out laughing. I’ve retold that story many times.
God bless you Coach Godefroid. You will be missed.
Brian O’Rourke
It is absolutely a true story, Brian. 💛
Bill and I were in college together for only two years, but he made a lasting impression on me. I would be surprised if when he was a freshman in high school he could have realized that he had already reached his full adult height. But Bill always played above his height. There was no one he could not pass on the soccer field, regardless of their stride. His skills on the handball court were also legendary. If he couldn’t beat you with his shot, he could weaken you with his wicked one-liners.
More memorable than his athletic prowess was his sense of humor. Bill was always ornery, never mean. He was the master of the snarky quip and the practical joke. He delighted in catching people off guard with his clever little comments about their faux pas. Above all, his high pitched giggle guaranteed the “victim” that he never meant to hurt anyone. Bill was born for fun and knew how to be funny. I’m certain he’s entertaining everyone at the heavenly banquet table right now.
Condolences to the entire Godefroid family on Bill’s passing.
Dear Mary and all of the wonderful Godefroid family, I extend my very deepest sympathy for your great loss. You will continue to be in my prayers.
Dearest Mary, Family, and Gene,
Such a tragedy and loss, yet Bill was such a legacy!!
Bill will live in Eternity with our Father and in the hearts of ALL who knew him or knew of him.
In searching the scriptures, I refer you to The Gospel of John, Chapter 14, verse 18,
words of Jesus…..”I not leave you comfortIess . I will come to you”.
Praise God! Think on your faith at this time.
God Bless You All!
Lovingly, Jackie
Mary and family,
We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Bill. Our prayers are with all of you. Know that we will keep you in our prayers. May Bill rest in peace.
I am a Parishioner at Saint Catherine Laboure. I did not know Bill personally. He has left a lasting impression with me, as I would see him at early morning Mass regularly during his years of illness and treatment, and during periods of remission. It was remarkable to me that his Faith was so strong, . Mary was often right there by his side. My thoughts and prayers are now with the entire Godefroid Family.
Condolences on the loss of a valued former colleague at St. Mary’s. He was a wonderful addition to our faculty and to our lives.
Mary and family,
I was blessed to have shared high school and college with Bill. His sense of humor and purpose and care for others was always a gift he left with anyone with whom he came in contact. I know his specialness from the fact that he and you created a beautiful life around you in your multitude of friends and the great family you raised.
I heard Bill was ready to meet the Lord and see what was on the other side. He had glimpses of that in this life with you and all he loved. Now he shares in the totality of Love.
Mary,
my deepest condolences to you and the family. I am unable to attend the visitation and the funeral due to other commitments but I wanted you to know of my prayers. I also want to thank you for the lovely note you sent via the Serra Club. May God bless and sustain you and the family.
Coach was one of my teachers at St. Mary’s. His stories and wit blended seamlessly with the subject matter allowing us to really learn what we needed to, while at the same time allowing us to experience “real life knowledge “ with a teacher who was comfortable sharing his stories about his family and how he dealt with the subject of the lesson. He was a great mentor to me, and I am sure others, and his zest for teaching and opening the eyes of young men will always be with me as I remember him as such an influence on me. Class of 1984
Mary,
So sorry for your loss. Bill was the quintessential nice guy, always for the underdog. Your family is his legacy. Our 8th grade class has lost one of their shining examples of what it means to be a good man of faith. So sorry I couldn’t make the visitation, but I will be at the mass.
With prayers,
Rich Pelikan
My deepest sympathy to you Mary and family.i will never forget MrG. And you Mary. You guys were one of the best teachers I had at St.Mikes I will never forget our 8th class and how you taught us. I am sorry he was sick I hope he didn’t suffer.Sounds like he had a wonderful family and grandkids.
For a man to have 39 comments regarding his obituary is a real testimony to his impact on young men and others. What I remember about him is his commitment to the sacredness of life.
Go Dragons!
Mr. Godefroid was my teacher for a few classes in high school. He encouraged me to pursue some things I wouldn’t have otherwise tried. His leadership, his personal advice for me, and the instant classic stories we all loved in the subjects I had with him are memories that have stuck with me across 20 years or so now that have passed since my graduation. Godefroid was always a warm and thoughtful, compassionate figure to me in those formative years, and I’ll always remember the impact he made on me, and the care he took as my teacher. Thanks for everything Mr. Godefroid.