Catherine M. Goodearl

Mystic - Catherine M. Goodearl, 94, of 20 Academy Lane, Mystic, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 4, 2013, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

She had resided previously at Drozdyk Drive in Groton and Upper Bartlett Road in Quaker Hill. She was born on Jan. 18, 1919, in Beach Meadows, Nova Scotia, the daughter of George and Gladys Durling. The Durling family moved to Hingham, Mass. in 1927. Catherine graduated from Hingham High School in 1935 and attended Boston College.

Catherine was married to the late Ralph William Goodearl on Oct. 19, 1940, in Hingham, Mass. They were married for 52 years before Ralph's death in July 1993. Ralph and Catherine were long time members of the First Baptist Church of New London. They were deacon and deaconess and served on many committees. Catherine was particularly involved in the mission program of the church and assisted in the formation of the Hispanic Baptist Church of New London.

She was an avid reader, loved music, an active volunteer in scouts and PTA. She was a volunteer with ESL and later as a reader in a local elementary school. She will be remembered as a kind, warm and generous person who was always ready with a smile. She was known affectionately as mom/Catherine/nana and she will be missed tremendously.

She is survived by her children, Kenneth and wife, Birge, of Santa Barbara, Calif., Robert of Wayland, Mass., Nancy and partner, Theresa, of Houston, Texas; and two grandchildren, Angela and John; as well as extended family.

Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 9, at the First Baptist Church of New London, 268 State St. Her burial will be held privately in the Mount Hope Cemetery, South Weymouth, Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the church or a charity of your choice.

Please visit www.byles.com to sign her guestbook or to share a memory.