Father Patrick B. Godley, who served in the Archdiocese of Seattle from 1953 to 2000, died Jan. 4, 2024, at Our Lady of Fatima Home in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland. He was 95.
He was born June 12, 1928, in Ballyheigue, County Kerry, Ireland, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Thomas Keogh on June 7, 1953, at St. Patrick’s College, Carlow, Ireland.
Not long after his ordination, he came to Seattle, where he was a priest assistant at St. James Cathedral in Seattle from November 1953 to February 1954. He then served as priest assistant at St. Patrick Parish in Tacoma until June 15, 1962.
Father Godley was pastor at several parishes in the archdiocese — St. Philip, Woodland (1962-1970); Holy Cross, Tacoma (1970-1978); Holy Family, Auburn (1978-1995); and St. Cecilia, Bainbridge Island (1995-2000) — before retiring in 2000.
He was preceded in death by his brother Jack and sisters Lilly, Sister Helen and Breda. He is survived by brothers Phil, Michael and Joseph; sisters Maureen and Margaret; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Requiem Mass was celebrated Jan. 6 at St. Mary’s Church in Ballyheigue. Interment followed at St. James Old Cemetery in Ballyheigue.