Jeanne Marie Godet (Brooks) passed away on November 3, 2025, after several years of living with dementia. She died at home with her husband and son at her side.

Jeanne was born on July 24, 1945, in Alexandria, Louisiana where her family was stationed during the end of WWII. Shortly after she was born, her family moved back home to Sterling, NY where she would grow up with her beloved sisters, attend and graduate high school (class of 1964, Red Creek), and even meet her future husband, who lived next door.

Jeanne was a creative spirit who had various artistic pursuits throughout her life. Everything from elaborate cakes that she made for customers and family members out of her home kitchen; elaborate flower gardens; large holiday displays (inside and out, especially at Christmas); various crafts that she would sell at shows, among many others. Many were familiar with Jeanne's photographs, which would sometimes be chosen as highlights on the local news, and were fan favorites on Facebook. Jeanne even did a fair amount of writing, which included poetry when she was younger and later writing the scripts for the kids' holiday skits at the Victory Methodist Church. Her creativity even extended to the kitchen where she would slip shredded vegetables into her young, picky-eater son's pasta without him knowing.

Jeanne loved nature and wildlife. She would be excited to see anything on a ride around the area but was particularly fond of birds. If something new or exciting was in the area she would be committed to finding it and capturing it on film. When the bald eagles and swans returned to the area she would go daily to see them and get better and better photos. She would sit for hours to get a good shot of a hummingbird feeding on the trumpet vine or eagle landing on the nest. She would tear out in the evening to capture a shot of a good sunset.

In addition to these pursuits, Jeanne was a proud employee of Cato Show Print and later Comstock in Red Creek. Jeanne enjoyed her work but was especially fond of her friends there. She was particularly proud of her strong attendance records and her will to avoid calling out sick for fear of making things harder for her colleagues.

Jeanne's partner in all of this was her husband of 56+ years, Bill–the boy next door in Sterling. Jeanne and Bill lived most of their married life together in Victory where they raised two sons, shared numerous pets, cultivated gardens, celebrated joys, and overcame challenges together. They always made each other laugh, right up until the end.

Jeanne really cherished her time with her sisters--lifelong companions with whom she shared many laughs and many cups of coffee. She was especially close to her mother who she visited every week before her death in 2016. Jeanne was a proud mother and grandmother and filled hard drives with photos of kids and pets.

Jeanne is survived by her husband Bill, son Adam, sisters Heidi Smalling (Brooks) and Linda Anson (Brooks), Brother-in-law Bob Smalling, sister-in-law Ann Tomko (Godet); grandkids Cassidy, Ethan, and Brynnley Godet; daughters-in-law Jennifer Hilfiker and Laurie O'Brien, Nieces Holly Frese (Farnham), Kelly Field (Anson), Clarrissa Brandt (Smalling), Nephews Tim Tomko, Kevin Tomko, Terry Farnham, Richard and Robbie Anson, Ryan Smalling. And numerous grandnieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother Alice Brooks (Lambert), Father Richard Brooks, her sister Sandy Craine (Brooks), and her son, Christian.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friends of Montezuma Wetlands Complex, https://friendsofmontezuma.org

Services will be held at the Keysor Dain Cullinan Funeral Home in Cato, NY on Friday November 7 from 1:00-2:30 pm with a service at 2:30, with a reception at the American Legion in Cato immediately afterwards.