Memorial
Janice Marie Goedken, 74, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Monday, October 27, 2014.
Janice’s funeral mass will be held at 11:00 am Friday, October 31, 2014 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Phil Thompson officiating. Burial will be at 3:00 pm in St. Joseph Cemetery, Prairieburg, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 4-8 pm Thursday at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home where a vigil will be held at 4:00 pm and from 10:00-11:00 am Friday at the church.
Survivors include her children, Phill (Lisa) Goedken of Waterloo, Dave (Jamie) Goedken of Monticello, Jeff Goedken of Cedar Rapids, Brad (Amy) Goedken of Midlothian, VA, Laura Goedken of Hudson, NH, Mike (Lauren Aleksunes) Goedken of Sparta, NJ, and Lisa (Tom) Meyers of Walford; Sisters, Barbara Sandman of Cedar Rapids, Ann Marie Simmons of Cedar Rapids. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ben in 2008, her granddaughter Jackie in 2011, her parents and her sisters Patricia Zens and Joann Wortman.
Janice Marie Simmons was born November 12, 1939 in Monticello, Iowa, the daughter of Vincent and Velma (Behrends) Simmons. On November 14, 1959, she married Bernard J. “Ben” Goedken in Prairieburg, Iowa. Janice farmed with her husband for 29 years, worked in customer service for 19 years at Teleconnect/MCI and retired from Northbrook Manor Care Center after 5 years. She was an active member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, regularly visiting shut-ins, and volunteered many hours for the Loss After Death of Spouse (LADOS) support group. Janice was a woman of uncommon compassion, never judging others. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her, knew her, and called her friend.
Janice’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Hospice of Mercy, the staff at Meth-Wick Woodlands, St. Luke’s Rehabilitation and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in her name.