Christine Godell

Christine Camille Sikorski Godell was born on the 3rd of February 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, and went home to her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, the 22nd of February 2022, in Houston, surrounded by family and loved ones. She was 82 years of age.

In addition to being a proud daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she was a proud, Roman Catholic and Polish woman who lived a life full of adventure, fashion, food and, most importantly, family and friends.

After attending Wayne State University, she met her husband, Dr. Chester Godell. They married in 1960 raised their five children on Houghton Lake, Michigan, then moved to Ft. Worth in 1971 to start his new medical practice. She served as the President of the Texas Osteopathic Association Auxiliary and was an Administrative Assistant at GameStop. She lived her retirement years in Houston. Although she became a proud Texan, she loved her out-of-state family and the culture of Michigan, often returning home after visits to her brothers, Gene, Art, and “little” brother Bob, with literal suitcases of deli meat from Kowalski’s Deli.

Christine was passionate about traveling. One of her most memorable trips was to Africa, where she began her love for elephants. She collected elephants (trunks up) and remarked how they were the most maternal mammals. She also loved cooking and the art of food. She would make French Toast and Beef Stroganoff for her grandchildren every chance she got and, often after befriending the chefs in her communities, would share her Polish cookbooks and secret family recipes, sometimes even speaking in Polish! Christine’s love for music and singing also translated throughout her family. When she was young, she sang for the Sweet Adelines, frequently being featured in summer musicals and on local radio. She grew to love Il Divo as her favorite musical group and cherished attending one of their live concerts with her son.

Some of her greatest joys in life were her everlasting friendships. Her family at her residential community, The Farrington, loved her quick wit, sense of style, and honesty. Christine was a New Resident Ambassador, and was usually the first to make friends, always wearing her Farrington name tag with pride. She and her “Golden Girls” were frequently seen in the Dining Room, playing Bingo, going on outings to various restaurants around Houston, watching an Astros game or chatting together about her newest outfit and jewelry collection she amassed over the years. She was always thrilled to introduce all her friends to her family when they would come to visit.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Edwin and Irene; brothers, Eugene, Arthur and Robert; husband, Dr. Chet Godell; and son-in-law, Mike Wilkins. She is survived by her son, Christopher Godell, and her daughters Vickie Wilkins, Kathy Godell French and her husband Kerry, Beth Ryan and her husband Jim, and Marie Godell Martin and her husband Scott; her grandchildren, Andrew and Brandon Wilkins, Kasey French Raley and her husband Wesley, Rebecca and James Ryan, Jonathan Martin, and Walker French and his wife Ginny; and her great-granddaughters, Nora Rose Wilkins, and Grace and Sarah French.

Her family wishes to express their deep appreciation and gratitude to the brilliant and loving staff at The Farrington who are credited for her health and care to the very end.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 25th of February, in the Grand Foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where a recitation of the Holy Rosary will immediately follow.

A Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at half past two o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 26th of February, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, please consider contributions in her memory to the Copernicus Center (copernicuscenter.org) or the Susan G. Komen Foundation, causes close to Christine’s heart.

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