Caroline Anne Goodfellow

Rather than sending flowers, we’d ask that you make a donation to MD Anderson at gifts.mdanderson.org. Click over to “Give in Memory Of…” and type “Caroline Goodfellow.” Add this information to the question, “Who will receive notification?”: Katie Goodfellow, 12345 Lamplight Village Avenue, Apt 113, Austin, TX 78758.

Caroline's life was devoted to loving and caring for others. After attending nursing school in the United Kingdom, Caroline came to the States to work as a pediatric oncology nurse. During the year she was in the States, she met a fellow Brit named Paul, who was traveling around the country on a rugby tour. The two fell fast in love, and were married two years later in the UK.

Soon after their marriage, the Goodfellows moved to the Netherlands, where Caroline transitioned into being a full-time mother. Louise, Katie, and Matthew were born in the Netherlands, and the family moved to the United States shortly after Matthew's birth.

In the United States, Caroline cared for people in so many different ways -- she volunteered with refugees, taught ESL at a local library, served as a companionship volunteer for a local hospice organization, mentored at a local school, and continued to be the glue of her family.

The last few years of her life brought many changes. In 2015, Paul, Caroline, and Matthew moved back to the United Kingdom. Caroline adored every second living in Aberdeen -- the sea, the woods, the Scots, and her community at Hillview Community Church.

After their time in Aberdeen, the Goodfellows moved to the Netherlands. In July of 2017, a few weeks after the move, Caroline was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (cancer of the bile duct). At the advice of oncologists, they moved back to Houston to receive treatment at MD Anderson.

After six months of unsuccessful treatment, Caroline began an experimental trial medicine in January, 2018. The cancer began to shrink, and she was again able to do so many of the things she loved. From January, 2018 to August, 2019, Caroline skied in Whitefish, hiked the hills of Scotland and Montana, visited all of her favorite places in England, took up the craft of pottery, played on the lake, and celebrated many milestones with her family.

On Wednesday, October 9th, Caroline was admitted to MD Anderson due to acute abdominal pain. The doctors soon found out this was caused by new lesions on her liver, indicating that her cancer was spreading once again. She quickly declined, and on Sunday afternoon she passed away surrounded by her family.

Caroline was not scared of dying. She knew she was going to be with her Lord, free of pain and with a new body, able once again to do all the things she loved to do. From the beginning of her diagnosis, Caroline was preparing her family for life without her bodily presence - comforting them in some of her most painful times, assuring them of her deep love but always pushing them into the comfort of being known and loved by Jesus. She loved her friends and family sacrificially and fiercely, with a gentle voice and the strongest of spirits.

If you would like to join us in celebrating Caroline’s life, we’ll be having a service at Katy Funeral Home this coming Saturday, October 19, at 2pm, with a visitation to follow from 3-5pm. We’ll also be having a service at Hillview Community Church in Aberdeen, United Kingdom, sometime in November.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing." — 2 Timothy 4:7-8