Barbara Ina (Petersen) Godin

Barbara Ina Petersen Godin, 94, of Hyde Park died peacefully at home on November 28, 2024.  

She was one of four children. She was the first child of William Neils Petersen and Marguerite Emmaline Parthenais. Her parents and siblings, Carl Shaw, William Petersen Jr. and sister, Ellen Manley all pre-deceased Barbara.  

Barbara was born in Vergennes on June 9, 1930. As a girl, she loved roller skating all over the town, up and down hills, playing  with her friends and playing piano. In 1939, her parents decided  to move the family to a farm in Hyde Park. Having been a “townie” and now being isolated, Barbara often said this was the  loneliest part of her life, that is, until she met two girls who  became her life-long friends; Mary Mudgett Adams and Gladys (Dolly) Dudley Cubit.  

When Barbra was 15 she met the love of her life. After meeting  Richard, she went home and wrote in her diary that she had met the man she was going to marry. On June 23, 1948, in a small  ceremony at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Hyde Park, Richard T. Godin married Barbara Ina Petersen. Richard predeceased his love on October 2, 2017.  

In 1952, Richard and Barbara along with their first born child, Gary, moved to Lansing, MI, where Richard worked at the Oldsmobile plant and Barbara worked as a secretary for Reo’s  Lawnmower Division. They moved back to Vermont in 1955 and purchased Barbara’s parents farm. It is on this farm that they worked and raised their five children.

On the farm, Barbara devoted herself to Richard and to raising her children. Two of her passions in life were reading and sewing. Barbara would often stay up late, reading or sewing. She was a  seamstress extraordinaire. After the children grew up, she devoted her time to making beautiful quilts! 

Barbara is survived by her children and their partners: Gary and Paulette Godin of Travelers Rest, S.C., Melissa and Donald Gillen of Johnson, Catherine Ploof (husband Bud, predeceased) of Morrisville, Tracey Godin and Mike Tousley of Waterville, Matthew Godin of Hinesburg, as well as a beloved daughter of the heart, Cherie Hammond of New Jersey, and her children Dean and Katie. She also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Edith Godin Boardman, Jason Godin, Isaac Gillen, Justin Gillen, Adam Ploof, Brandie Ploof, Joseph Carpenter, Benjamin Carpenter and Zachary Godin; 11 great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Most Holy Name of Jesus, 301 Brooklyn St. Morrisville, VT 05661 or Lamoille County Home Health & Hospice, 54 Farr Avenue, Morrisville, VT 05661  

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Morrisville on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held on Friday, June 6, 2025 at 10:00am in St. Theresa's Cemetery, Hyde Park. Online condolences may be made at www.dgfunerals.com. 

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