Obituary

Connie Godby, 71, of Covington, KY passed away at home on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, after a fun evening out to dinner with her daughter and two youngest grandkids. Luckily for her and all who knew her, she squeezed more joy and laughter into her 71 years than most would in twice that time. Constance Jo Godby was born December 4, 1950 to Joe and Margie (Fey) Goins, followed by her brother Kenneth and their sister Carole. She lived most of her life in northern Kentucky, graduating from LaSalette Academy in 1969. Shortly after high school, she met her first husband, Gary Graff, with whom she raised two children, Jamison and Julia Graff. Her parenting years involved more hiking and camping than she likely anticipated, along with an impressive amount of Scouting, soccer, and volunteering with PTAs. She met many dear friends throughout her career at various workplaces in the Cincinnati area. She especially enjoyed her work and the friends she made at Federated Department Stores downtown, and at Gibson Greeting Cards, where she developed a lifelong obsession with finding just the right greeting card for every occasion. After Gary's death in 1998, Connie re-married to Timothy Godby, with whom she enjoyed 9 years until his death in 2014. She held close her love of these two men--and their families--for the rest of her life. Connie was a lover of The Beatles, books, animals, UK basketball, and righteous causes. Many stray cats and dogs found a life of pampering after sniffing out the path to her open door and soft heart. She vocally advocated for many issues related to animal welfare, the environment, and social justice. Blessed with the gift of gab and a warm smile, she easily befriended neighbors, co-workers, the mailman, and people in line with her at the grocery store. While working at Gibson, she received a donation request from a man in prison who wanted to send his young children cheerful cards. When she learned that the corporate office had declined his request, Connie sent him a package of cards from the company store. This led to a years-long friendship they enjoyed until his death. Her love language was cards and gifts, especially gifts of books. She passed on to her children her love of reading, nature, and gardening. She was a fierce believer in the power of education, instilling in her children a deep love of learning and encouraging them to spread their wings. She later tried-with modest success-to stifle dismay at how far from Kentucky those wings would take them. Five years ago, that distance closed when she moved in with Julia's family in Silver Spring, MD, not far from Jamison's family. She leaves behind her mother Margie Goins, her sister Carole Goins, her sisters-in-law, Nancy Wischer, Judy Graff, and Theresa Goins, her brothers-in-law Richard and Timothy Graff, her son Jamison Graff, daughter-in-law Julie Stern, her daughter Julia Graff, son-in-law Brad Leneis, and her four awesome grandkids, Ronan Graff, Mireya Graff, Amery Leneis, and Lucinda Leneis, and three step-children, Heather Shawen, Micah Godby, and Aaron Godby, as well as a slew of nephews, a niece, 5 step-grandkids, many dear friends, and her ornery orange tabby cat, Jazzy. Visitation will take place at Holy Cross Church, 3612 Church Street, Covington (Latonia), KY 41015 from 10:30 am until the Mass of Christian burial at 11:30 am on Saturday, April 2, 2022. Interment: Mother of God Cemetery, Ft. Wright, KY. Memorials are suggested to the Kentucky Humane Society, online at https://www.kyhumane.org/ways-to-give/in-honor-of-a-loved-one/, or by mail at 1000 Lyndon Lane Suite B, Louisville, KY 40222. Connley Brothers Funeral Home, Latonia, KY is serving the family. Online condolences may be expressed on Facebook or at www.connleybrothersfuneralhome.com