Janet Goddard
May 9, 2009
ROCKPORT — Janet (Smith) Goddard, 85, of Rockport, died peacefully on
Friday, May 29, 2009 at Seacoast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center with
her children by her side.
Janet was born on Aug. 20, 1923 in Winchester to Dorothy (Otto) and
Carl Smith. She graduated from Westbrook Junior College in Westbrook,
Maine in 1944, while waiting for her fiance, Frederick "Ted" Norton Jr.
to come home from Europe in World War II. Janet was very proud that her
mother had been a suffragette and nurses aide in World War I. After
college, Janet worked in community settlement houses in Boston.
Janet and Ted were married in 1945, and had three children together;
Wendy Norton, Debra Norton and Frederick "Chip" Harwood Norwood III.
They made their home in Annisquam and Rockport.
After their divorce, Janet worked in real estate, and for eight years
she shared her great love for the theater by teaching drama at the
Pingree School.
In 1976 Janet married John "Jack" M. Goddard. She continued caring
for poor and disadvantaged women, devoting many hours mentoring at
Wellspring House.
Janet was fun-loving and quick to laugh. She had many dear friends
whom she treasured. In recent years she spread good cheer to the
wonderful staff at Seacoast, who cared for her so lovingly.
Janet was predeceased by her daughter, Wendy and her husband, Jack
Goddard. She is survived by her daughter, Debra and her husband Brian
Sullivan of Salisbury; her son-in-law, Edmund "Len" Johnson of Nashua,
N.H.; her son and daughter-in-law, Chip and Hope Norton of Rockport; her
grandchildren, Corey Lee Norton and his wife Cheryl Mackay of
Washington, Julia Pearsall Norton of Rockport and Grace Torrey Norton of
Rockport. Janet's step children were very important to her; Barbara and
Geoffrey Goddard of Rockport and Lynn Goddard of Rockport, and she was "Grammie"
to their children.
ARRANGEMENTS: There will be a memorial service on Saturday, July
25, at 11 a.m. at the Rockport Congregational Church, Main Street and
School Street, Rockport. Donations in Janet's name may be made to
Wellspring House, 302 Essex Ave., Gloucester, MA 01966 or
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Gift Management Services, 5005
LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244.
