Mary (Magana) Godina

Mary (Magana) Godina, of Fond du Lac, passed away peacefully at home with her family at her side on Wednesday, November 28, 2012. She was born April 29, 1921, to her parents, Cornelius and Natalie (Vera) Magana, in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico. Her family was one of the first Mexican families to come to Fond du Lac, joining others in her family that was already here. She attended school at St. Mary's and belonged to Sacred Heart Church-Holy Family Parish. On August 24th, 1954, she married Joseph "Jesse" J. Godina, Sr. before the Justice of Peace in Illinois, and liked it so much she married him again on February 5, 1955, before God at St. Mary's Church by Rev. Raymond Fox. Mary worked numerous jobs throughout her life. She worked at Rueping Leather Company, Everix Bakery, St. Agnes Hospital, as a cook at Van Ryans Restaurant on Forest Avenue, Miles Kimball, and had cleaned for Madame Kuony. In her later years, she would babysit many kids that she considered them as extended family. Besides working and taking care of kids, she enjoyed going on many road trips with her husband and friends. They traveled to the U.P. Rhinelander, a trip down south, and visits back to Mexico, one in which she went back to her birthplace. She also liked to go to the casinos and gamble. She loved to cook and bake, many times having Christmas cookies and candy all the way till Easter. She loved to garden, especially with the help of her grandsons, John and Mark. She looked forward to Christmas when her son and his family would come in from California, and she could spend time with her grandchildren, Joaquin and Natalie, Her house was filled with smiles and laughter. Mary was the oldest girl of 14 children, having raised a few of them after her parents passed away. Mary would spend time with her relatives, Ralph and Mamma Ruiz, Jesse and Virginia Ruiz, the Vera's, Torres's, and French's. Mary is survived by her children, daughter Kay (Tom Witt) Godina of Fond du Lac, son Joseph J. (Special Friend Rachel) Godina, Jr. of Fond du Lac, Mark (Cristina) Godina, El Centro, CA, and Michele (Doug) Murray of Fond du Lac. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and she held a special place in her heart for her one granddaughter, Cara, whom Jesse and her had raised as their own, brothers, Joe Magana of San Antonio, TX and John (Kathy) Magana of Fond du Lac, and five sisters, Teresa Magana of Fond du Lac, Delores Elmer and Marge LaPoint, both of Oshkosh, Elaine Magana of Germantown, and Natalie Magana of Modesto, CA, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jesse in 2001, her son Richard, in 1993, her brothers Tony, Mike, Roy, Cornelius, sisters, Rose Magana, and Margo Crain, aunts, uncles, a few nephews, as well as many friends from years gone by.



Per Mary's wishes, cremation will take place. There will be no visitation or services. Uecker-Witt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.ueckerwitt.comMary lived a very full life to the end and will be dearly missed by those who loved her.