Our beautiful mom, Ann Goddard, has slipped the surly bonds of Earth. She left us five days shy of her 94th birthday, beneath a brilliant October full moon, with her husband of 70 years, Peter, and her four children at her side. Born in Falmouth, Nova Scotia on Halloween night 1932, we always knew she had magical powers.
Mom believed in herself, and as a result, she had a wonderful life. She truly loved every adventure life offered her—and there were many. She renovated many old houses, built and restored two boats, learned to fly earning her pilot’s licence at age 35, and jumped out of an airplane from 10,000 feet at 82. She managed Mountain Gap Inn in Smith’s Cove for 15 years, travelled far and wide around the world, helped put Peter through medical school teaching high school in Halifax and for 60 years Mom was a button holding our family home in Aylesford together.
She loved family breakfasts, woodstove fires, baking apple pies, mayflowering, walking through Lynda’s garden, skiing, going from black to blond hair and never looking back, friends at Duncan’s Cove, the smell of Bluenose Boatyard in East River where their boats were built, covert operations with Hartly big-city bustle, the thrill of flying, exploring unknown roads, and cozy nights spent onboard Kifaru.
Family van rides to ski Sugarloaf’s Tote Road were a special highlight. She wholeheartedly subscribed to the Oscar Wilde quote, “I can resist anything except temptation”. She rarely turned down an opportunity to try something new and was fast to respond to any invitation with ‘yes’!
What was truly near and dear to Mom were family, friends, and social connections. She had many, and her passing has been met with a resounding sigh of sadness among family and friends. Mom’s zest for life and adventure lives on in her children and grandchildren, though future adventures without her will be bittersweet.
Her family extends heartfelt thanks to caregiver and friend Freda, who has been there for Mom since the beginning of her four-year journey following her head injury. Thanks to Dr Crystal Todd managed her health through wellness and illness and expertly provided comprehensive palliative care through to her last days and love rings out to son Dr. Tom who provided us with much needed support and wise words to that guided us through mom’s journey.
We are also grateful to the many wonderful caregivers and family who provided compassionate and loving care along the way. Ann was the daughter of the late Thomas and Hattie (Bacon) Aylward. She leaves behind her loving husband, Dr. Peter; sons Billy (Kristen Rasmussen) Goddard of West Vancouver and Tom (Lisa Mitchell) Goddard of Grand Pré; daughters Lynda (Gordon Ratcliffe) Goddard of The Lodge and Jane (Alec Oickle) Goddard of Fox Point; her sister, Joan Mansfield of Falmouth; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was Grannie Annie to Jillian, Jordan, Jake, Katie, and Lucy.
Besides her parents, Ann was predeceased by her brother, Walter, and her sisters, Gerry MacDonald and Polly Oulton.
Cremation has taken place, and a celebration of her life will be held as she requested on a sunny warm day probably when mayflowers are in bloom, we’ll let you know. Please no moping, just a party with dancing and song. Arrangements have been entrusted to Personal Care Cremations & Memorial Services.
Donations to the Brain Injury Association of NS or would be appreciated by her family https://braininjuryns.com/donation-page/ and take time to smell the flowers.
Oh yeah, she really loved beer and nachos! We love you mom zip a dee do dah!
