Esther Godek – a recent resident of Ashland, MA and long-time resident of Chicopee, MA – passed away peacefully on February 26, 2025, at the age of 98 after a brief illness. Esther leaves her daughter Marianne Toomey of Holliston, MA; granddaughter Marissa Connolly and her husband Dan Connolly of Medway, MA; great grandchildren Danny and Lucy Connolly of Medway, MA; great grand-dog Tonka Connolly of Medway, MA; and friends Maureen and Bill Harvey of Ashland, MA. 

Esther was the daughter of Polish immigrants Stephanie (nee Krystek) and Joe Slomiak who came through Ellis Island in the early 1900’s to settle in the City of Chicopee, MA. Esther’s favorite pastimes as a child were roller skating and bike riding all the way into the next city – Springfield, exploring the area and meeting new people, picking flowers for her mother from random yards, drawing, and having conversations with anyone willing to engage. 

As a teenager, Esther worked in her parents’ grocery store – Slomiak’s Market in Chicopee. Her family’s favorite story from that experience is when Esther represented herself in court for violating a WW II food rationing policy by providing an excess number of bottles of milk to a local family. Esther made her case for bending the rules for a family with six hungry children. She won. 

Esther graduated from Chicopee High School in 1943. In 1950, Esther married Ted Godek, also of Chicopee, and the couple went on to have two daughters – Marianne of Holliston, MA and dear Geraldine of North Carolina, who sadly passed away in 1999. The couple enjoyed several vacations together, with Hawaii as the most beautiful and Poland as the most impactful. 

During the 1960’s, Esther was the president of the PTA – an honor of which her daughters were proud. For several years, Esther was a member of the Chicopee Falls Women’s Club, where she enjoyed participating in charity events as well as local celebrations. While in her 80’s, Esther even modeled in the club’s fashion show.  

Esther enjoyed learning to dance with husband Ted, with styles ranging from ballroom to square dancing. Esther learned to golf at age 50, and became a very good golfer, playing in local leagues for several years. She attributed her golfing abilities to being relaxed, conversing with the other players about recipes rather than the sport. 

As the daughter of Polish immigrants, Esther could speak Polish and carried on several ethnic holiday traditions. Her family is thankful that she passed down the family’s Polish recipes, which will likely be enjoyed for generations.

Esther was highly talented in all things creative – sewing, embroidery, knitting, hat making, gourmet cooking that surpassed any restaurant, cake decorating, confections and bread baking, gardening, home décor, and oil and watercolor painting. Esther’s watercolors were displayed in local exhibits around the City of Chicopee, and her embroideries won several awards at the Eastern States Exposition. 

Esther was always open to considering new trends and ideas. While she loved several musical genres (classical, opera, easy listening, and country), she became a Beatles fan upon their first appearance on Ed Sullivan. When it was rare for women to hold positions in government, Esther always rooted for the female candidate. Esther learned to use a computer at the age of 70, and until the age of 97, she enjoyed researching information and finding humorous videos on the internet and using email for communication. 

Upon husband Ted’s passing in 2012, Esther moved from Chicopee to Ashland, where she started a new and very full social life at the Cookingham Green Condos. At age 86, she made several friends in the neighborhood and engaged in dinners, parties, bocce, concerts, trips to museums, and even Sox games. Esther’s family is thankful for the Cookingham residents embracing Esther with open arms, as the new “kid” on the block. 

Esther soon joined the Hopkinton Women’s Club, who so warmly welcomed their new member. As possibly the oldest member of the club, Esther was shown exceptional kindness and consideration, especially when getting around became a bit challenging. While in the club, Esther participated in wonderful charity events as well as fun occasions, even riding on the Club’s float in a parade (for which her daughter Marianne is forever jealous).  

When Esther turned 90, daughter Marianne and granddaughter Marissa took her to The Bahamas – a spectacular three generations vacation! And just one of the many wonderful times the family spent together over the years, but for Esther, nothing was better than precious moments spent with her great grandchildren Danny and Lucy. No matter what, they always brought a smile to Esther’s face. 

During her entire life, Esther was well-read and informed about current events – a kind of news junkie – and even close to her last days, she enjoyed a lively conversation about politics. She deeply regretted not witnessing a woman becoming president of our country. 

Esther Godek will be remembered as friendly, intelligent, well-spoken, highly creative, resilient, and as someone who didn’t sweat the small stuff. She loved cooking and eating, and she loved a good laugh. Always treasuring her independence, she lived on her own in a condo until the age of 97. She loved talking with people, even to strangers in the grocery store line. And she had the most magnificent sense of direction – even in the City of Boston! 

A Celebration of Esther’s Life will take place in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers or donations, the family requests anyone who knew Esther or anyone reading this obituary to do something nice for someone – a simple thing like waving someone on in traffic or bringing someone’s trash barrel up to the garage. Knowing some “random acts of kindness” were carried out in honor of Esther would be appreciated by her family.