Obituary of Dorothy Godlewski

Dorothy Lanzara Godlewski,91 Dorothy Lanzara Godlewski, of Essex Fells, serenely passed surrounded by her loving children on May 27, 2017. She was 91. She will be remembered by her many friends and loved ones for her beauty and wit, her brilliant and courageous intelligence and her dedication to children. She was a pioneer in education, author, champion of kindness and breaker of all barriers. She combined the careers of teacher, missionary, wife and mother. After Barringer High School and completing undergraduate studies at Newark Teacher's College, she pursued Masters in Education at Montclair State University, Kean and Fordham University. She also attended the Barbizon School of Modeling for fun. In 1952 she toured Europe on the Queen Mary and in 1953, worked with the St. Mary School in St. Croix, Virgin Islands and the Missionary Clinic in San Antonio, Texas as a continuing benefactor. She taught in Newark, Belleville and Rutherford, where she was also principal, Curriculum Coordinator and created the Gifted and Talented Program. She loved Aquasize at the Caldwell Community Center, science, boating, fishing, golf, her many trips to Italy, and her weekend visits to Spring Lake. She loved her home, especially entertaining and bird watching. She enjoyed life with her beloved late companion Albert Melok. Dorothy is survived by her loving children, son Frank , daughter Lisa G. and her husband Bill Westheimer and also her nephew Robert Gill. She formerly lived in Berkeley Heights Park, Bloomfield, Rutherford and Montclair. Dorothy was born in on Newark, NJ, across the street from Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00am Friday, June 2, 2017 89 Ridge St. Newark. She was the beloved daughter of Frank Vincent Lanzara and Nancy Gerard and sister of the late Susan Gialanella of Spring Lake. She was wed to the late Leon Joseph Godlewski. Viewing: Thursday June 1, 4pm-8pm at Dangler Funeral Home, 340 Main St., West Orange. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dorothy's memory may be made to Clara Maass Medical Center Foundation at www.barnabashealth.org/cmmcmail and to the Montclair Art Museum Summer Art Camp c/o Montclair Art Museum 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair, NJ 07042