
Ann J. Godula
July 13, 1931 -
February 6, 2026

Ann Jessica Godula, 94, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Ann was the beloved wife of patent attorney, Edmund Andrew Godula. They were married in Holy Redeemer Church in Evergreen Park, Illinois in 1961 and were happily wed until Edmund’s untimely death in 1977.
Ann is survived by her son, Edmund Joseph Godula; daughter, Genie Godula Parrack (m. James Parrack) and grandchildren, Jonah Parrack and Zoe Parrack.
Born Anna Dryjanski on July 13, 1931, in Chicago, to Chester and Anna (Gorzynski) Dryjanski (later changed to Dryan), she was the oldest of four children including Chester Dryan (d. 2020), Priscilla Swartz and Judy Johnson. She is also survived by her beloved cousins, Louise and Florianne Rzeszewski as well as several nieces and nephews.
Ann graduated from Visitation High School in Chicago in 1949 and attended Rosary College in River Forest before getting her Bachelor of Science in English Literature from Loyola University. She was the first in her family to earn a college degree. Ann also earned teaching and paralegal certificates and worked several different jobs in her lifetime. She was a secretary at McGraw Publishing Company and for the Dominican Fathers (St. Jude Shrine), a teacher at the Brentano School in Chicago, a legal secretary and paralegal for several lawyers and an executive assistant for Cenegenics in Las Vegas. She was also an active volunteer throughout her life, including her time as an officer of The Advocates Society Auxiliary.
Ann had an adventurous spirit, sailing to Europe in the mid-1950s and touring several countries. Many years later, she hopped on the back of her daughter’s motor scooter in Paris saying, “I’ll try anything once.”
Ann was an excellent cook and hostess as anyone who attended one of her many delicious and entertaining meals would attest. She was a lover of culture, playing the accordion, piano and harp and enjoying concerts, the theatre and the opera. She was a long-time member of the Great Books club and was a great reader herself, often taking part in the Kenosha Public Library book club.
Ann was a devout Polish Catholic and a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She was a thirty-year resident of Kenosha and took particular joy in reading the Kenosha News every morning with her coffee. She was a volunteer at the Kenosha Historical Society for several years where she helped clip and arrange the obituaries. She would be proud to see this obituary saved there as well to mark her long and full life.
Private Interment will be held in Maryhill Catholic Cemetery, Niles, Il.
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Posted by:
Nancy and Mark SalernoPosted on:
March 8, 2026Ann was a loving individual with a deep faith. We were so blessed to have her as a neighbor for so long. May she rest in eternal peace. Our heartfelt condolences to the family, we know how proud she was of her children and grandchildren.
Posted by:
Mark E GodulaPosted on:
February 14, 2026Much love to Eddie and Genie and the Family My deepest condolences. Auntie Ann was an amazing woman, a wonderful wife and mother and she always treated me with great love and set an incredibly great example for all of us. She had a beautiful smile that would light up the room and you could actually feel her joy. I looked forward to going to her and my uncle ed's home for the holidays because she would always make the absolute best gourmet meals including duck or goose it was like kind of having Julia Child for an aunt. She was the best hostess a wonderful auntie and I really loved her very much and appreciated her always. May God Bless and Keep Auntie Anne.
Posted by:
Cathy PolovinaPosted on:
February 13, 2026Dear Ann was a delightful and valued member of KPL’s Classic Novels Book Club for many years- always challenging herself to learn and appreciate even the most difficult material. She was so proud of her children Ed and Jeannie who both doted as well on her. What a great life she had- my condolences to those who will miss her most.
Posted by:
LesliePosted on:
February 12, 2026Ed, my most sincere thoughts of love and light to you. Your mom was such a lovely soul and she brought joy to all of us throughout the years. Her beautiful smile beaming at us onstage is one of my most favorite RTG memories. Thank you for sharing her with us; our lives are so blessed having known her.







