Cecile Marilyn Goetz

Cecile (CeCe) Lippman Goetz, Sipa bat Rivka, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully on Thursday, May 15, 2025. Mrs. Goetz was born August 26, 1929 in Brooklyn, NY, the only child of Ruth & Harry Lippman.

Cecile was 14 when she met her 15-year-old high school sweetheart, Donald (Don), at James Madison High School. He was 20 and still in pharmacy school when they married in 1948. Soon after, they purchased a home on Long Island, NY, where they raised their three children. While her children were growing up, Ceil had a number of retail and clerical jobs and also marketed World Book Encyclopedia.

In 1978 Ceil and Don retired to condominium life in Pompano Beach, Florida, where they resided for 30 years. In 2008, Ceil and Don relocated to Jacksonville to live at The Coves at River Garden. Ceil and Don were married for 61 years, and upon Don’s death in 2010, Ceil continued to enjoy and participate in the many social programs and activities at The Coves, with a special emphasis on Bingo. Ceil especially enjoyed spending time with her family, particularly her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, playing canasta, giving life advice – and kibbitzing!

CeCe lived a full, meaningful and dignified life. Our family is forever grateful to the staff at The Coves of River Garden, River Garden Home Health Care, and River Garden Hebrew Home for their loving kindness. Together they made it possible for CeCe to make the most of these later years.

Surviving family includes her children, Martin (Susan) Goetz, Robert (Joanne) Goetz, Wendy Melnikoff; grandchildren, Justin (Jacquelyn) Melnikoff, Brett (Anna) Melnikoff, Bradley (Kim) Goetz, Jeffrey Goetz, Jennifer Goetz, Amy Goetz (David Steffin); and great-grandchildren, Ellie & CeCe Melnikoff and Benjamin (Benji) Steffin. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law Jack Melnikoff.

Graveside funeral services will be held at Star of David Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale.

Contributions in CeCe’s memory may be made to River Garden Hebrew Home, 11401 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32258.