Kathleen Marie (Cook) Goddard, 67, of Littleton, the wife of Timothy Goddard, passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Born in Lowell on April 20, 1958, the daughter of the late James and Marie (Payette) Cook, Kathleen was raised in Lowell, attending the Lowell school system and the former Keith Hall, before pursuing music classes at the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.

In addition to her husband, Kathleen leaves three children – Michael Goddard and his wife Kate of Lowell, Sarah Early and her husband William of Melrose, and Joseph Goddard of Littleton. Additionally, she leaves two granddaughters, Bridget Goddard of Lowell, and Natalie Early of Melrose. Kathleen also leaves two brothers, James Cook and his wife Candace of Lowell and Patrick Cook and his wife, Jacqueline, also of Lowell, along with several nieces and nephews. Kathleen also leaves two sisters-in-law, Martha Johnson and her husband Eric of Littleton, and Maura Goddard of Holden, as well as Patrick Goddard and his wife Betsy of Mystic, Connecticut along with many more nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Kathleen was predeceased by her brother Gerald of Shirley, her in-laws Ronald and Ann Goddard of Littleton, and her brothers-in-law Michael, Kevin, and Ronald Goddard. She also leaves her dearest friends and sisters from other mothers Mary Sansone, Cheryl Saltsman, and Pat Fales, along with several other beach buddies. Additionally she leaves numerous cousins, some of whom she numbered as her dearest friends as well.

Prior to her retirement, Kathleen worked for years as manager of the Lowell Municipal Employees Federal Credit Union at Lowell City Hall, where she always greeted people with a smile, and invariably engaged in stories about everyone’s children and grandchildren – including, of course, her own adventures as Nana to her girls. Prior to that, she worked for several years driving a school bus in Littleton, a job she enjoyed because she got to watch so many of the town’s children grow up while they quietly travelled the roadways of Littleton together.

To all who knew her, Kathleen was a free spirit who found the greatest pleasure in life spending time with her family and friends. She passionately enjoyed family gatherings on holidays or special occasions, where everyone she loved was gathered in one place, a blessing she particularly enjoyed over the past few months as her loved ones surrounded her, bringing her frappes, iced coffees, and a multitude of treats to share over laughs and memories. She also found comfort throughout her life in the company of her dogs, from Chopper to Clover to her most recent, Maximus.

Throughout her entire life, Kathleen found happiness in life’s simplest joys, especially a day at the beach or just listening to and/or playing music. Kathleen enjoyed expressing herself by playing music, raising her children with songs, and by listening to those same children play music and reciprocate their enduring love for the same inspirational power of music by performing in public, either through their instruments, voices, or the beauty of the magic of dance. For decades, Kathleen was the consummate backstage dance mom not just to her own daughter, but to Jen (Sansone) Miezejeski and countless other prima ballerinas. A product of the flower-power generation of the 1960s, Kathleen would proudly flash a peace sign, and was notorious for adorning herself in psychedelic colors that unleashed her beliefs in the beauty of the colors that brightened her world. She found comfort and passion escaping in the music of many of the greatest bands of the last century, particularly her favorite band U2. Finding strength in the lyrics of one of U2’s hits, Walk On, Kathleen was the singing bird in the open cage. Kathleen’s fervent wish was that she wanted to be known as someone who treasured family and friends above all else, and as someone that people enjoyed being around. To that end, to quote the Moody Blues and another of her favorite songs, Kathleen - just what you want to be, you will be in the end.

Calling hours for Kathleen will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Badger Funeral Home, 347 King St., Littleton, MA. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date to be announced. 

Donations in Kathleen’s memory can be made to the facility and health care providers who brought Kathleen comfort in her final days to:
Care Dimensions
75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102
Danvers, MA, 01923
www.caredimensions.org/donate

Arrangements under the care of Badger Funeral Home, 347 King Street, Littleton, MA 01460  www.badgerfuneral.com