Nellie Goddard

Nellie Goddard, 95, passed away at 7:40 A.M. Sunday, August 4, 2013, in her home. Nellie was born December 18, 1917 in Johnston City, the daughter of Nazaro and Angela Columbo.  She married Ralph Goddard on November 19, 1938 in Johnston City and together they shared over 71 years of marriage.  Ralph passed away on March 3, 2010. She was a member of the First Freewill Baptist Church in Johnston City.  She also attended Lone Oak Baptist Church with her daughter and family.  She was a graduate of Johnston City High School.  Nellie worked for several years with Norge and the Bank of Herrin and retired from the State Office Building in Marion.  During her retirement, she and Ralph traveled in their motorhome throughout the US and Canada.  They also enjoyed horseback riding and camping in the Shawnee National Forest with their many friends.  One of Nellie’s favorite things to do was building the campfire.  In later years, she loved to keep in touch with her sisters and friends by telephone.  She loved her family very much! Nellie is survived by her daughter, Joyce Schwarm and husband Louis; her four grandchildren, Debra Troop and husband Mike, Susan May and husband Shannon, Mark Schwarm and wife Carole, and David Schwarm.  Other survivors include her seven great-grandchildren Sarah Tyner and husband Kyle, Justin May and wife Courtney, Jennifer May, Jacob and Jeremiah Schwarm, and Stephen and Jonathan Troop.  Also, Nellie is survived by two sisters; Ida Donat of St. Louis and Juanita Andrew and husband Bill of Johnston City.  She will be deeply missed by her family. She was preceded in death by by her parents, her husband, Ralph Goddard and grandson James Michael, four sisters, Teresa, Rose, Josephine and Tress and one brother, Johnny Columbo and special sister-in-law, Emma Louis Kline. Funeral services will be Friday, August 9, 2013 at 1 P.M. at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion with Rev. Jerry Schell officiating.  Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery.  Visitation will be Friday from 11:30 A.M. until the time of service at the funeral home. For those wish, memorials may be made in Nellie’s memory to the Lone Oak Baptist Church.  Envelopes will be available and accepted at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home, 800 North Market Street, Marion, Illinois  62959.