Barbara Goodrich

Fort Collins, CO Barbara Elaine Veit Goodrich, 93, the widow of Dr. Gordon M. Goodrich, whom she was married to for 49 years, died peacefully on October 15, 2023 at Pathways Hospice in Fort Collins, CO. Barbara was a former Prospect, CT resident for 49 years.

Barbara was born April 5, 1930 in Philadelphia, PA a daughter of the late Louis Rody Veit and Ruth Anna (Beardsell) Veit. Barbara was raised in Philadelphia where she attended Frankford High School then she went to Benjamin Franklin School of Nursing at Pennsylvania Hospital. Barbara worked for 10 years as a Nurse Anesthetist at Pennsylvania Hospital and also at Temple University School of Dentistry.

Barbara was Gordon M. Goodrich’s wife for 49 years. She was a loving wife and mom of 3 children and was a strong advocate of family, community and neighborhood. Barbara loved going for walks and found solace in nature and gardening. Her love of the outdoors was evident in the enthusiasm she expressed in tending to her garden, hiking and walking which she did almost daily. She had a wonderful marriage to Gordon and supported him in his dental practice of over 45 years in Prospect, Connecticut. She and Gordon raised and influenced 3 children and instilled kindness in her kids and all those with whom she interacted. She had a kind heart and loved to laugh, as humor was one of her best qualities. Barbara always called herself a “depression baby”. No morsel food would ever go wasted, and her family loved to tease her about this habit. She always had a warm smile, a welcoming disposition, and a sunny personality which shined on all those she came in contact with. She will be deeply missed by her family, and all that knew her.

She enjoyed being involved in her Nursing School Sorority, the Garden Club in Prospect, CT; the Naugatuck Flower Club; Women’s Auxiliary Golf Club; Prospect Congregational Church Choir and the Methodist Church Choir in Ft. Collins.

Barbara is survived by her children, Douglas MacKay Goodrich of Alameda, CA; James Kenneth Goodrich and his wife, Erin P. Goodrich of Palo Alto, CA; Laurie Ruth Goodrich and her husband, James P. Terrell of Bellvue, CO; her grandchildren, Parker James Goodrich and Greyson James Goodrich both of Palo Alto, CA; her brother and sister in law, Lawrence Robert Veit and Jo Ann West of Victor, ID; her niece, Jennifer Randolph Veit of Philadelphia, PA; her nephews, Peter Lewis Veit and his wife, Kathleen Veit, Daniel McNair Veit and his wife, Lisa Veit of Los Angeles, CA, Alfred James Goodrich and his wife, Kara Goodrich of Philadelphia, PA and her niece, Claudia Goodrich Bender and her husband, Josh Bender of Rhode Island. In addition to her husband and her parents, Barbara was predeceased by her sister, Mildred Lillian Veit Metzler and her husband, Theodore Allen Metzler; her brother in law, Edward “Ned” Goodrich and Ned’s wife, Alfreda V. Goodrich and her nephews, born to Mildred and Ted, David Allen Metzler and Ronald Paul Metzler.

A Funeral Service will be held Friday, April 5, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Prospect Congregational Church, 25 Center Street, Prospect, CT. Burial will follow in Prospect Cemetery. There are no calling hours and arrangements have been entrusted to the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck, CT. In lieu of flowers and to honor Barbara’s memory, donations are requested to Prospect Congregational Church, 25 Center Street, Prospect, CT 06712.