Diana Godish

Diana Godish, age 84, died peacefully at Rose Arbor Place in Kalamazoo, MI on June 19, 2026.

She was born on August 17, 1941 in New York City and grew up on a farm in Huntington County, New Jersey. She left New Jersey to attend Hope College in Holland, MI; she graduated with a degree in Biology in 1963. She then received a Ph.D. in Zoology from Penn State University. At Penn State, Diana met and married the love of her life, Thad Godish. They raised three children and spent many wonderful years together exploring the great outdoors and various countries around the world.

Diana was a long-time faculty member in the Department of Physiology and Health Sciences at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. Before her retirement in 2009, she served several years as Chair of that department. In Muncie, she volunteered extensively with St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, the Girl Scouts, Ball Hospice, AARP Tax Aide, and Second Harvest Foodbank. Called to dedicate her life to the service of others, she joined the Secular Franciscans in 2014.

In 2016, Diana moved to Kalamazoo, MI to live near family. In Kalamazoo she was active with St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish, Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, AARP Tax Aide, Clean Water for the World, and Meals on Wheels.

Diana is survived by her daughter Larissa Dugas and son-in-law John Dugas, and her son Mark Godish and daughter-in-law Laura Chong; six grandchildren: Christine, Michael and Alex Dugas; Jon and Grace Godish; Tamara Koerner and her husband Richard Koerner; and two great-grandchildren: Cielo and Emmett.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Thad Godish; her parents Jakob and Ida Kullmer Oster; her brothers Walter and Roger Oster; and her daughter Leta Godish.

A visitation will be held at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, 3926 S. 9th Street, Kalamazoo, from 5:00-7:00 PM on Tuesday June 30th, with a Funeral Mass at St. Thomas More Catholic Student Parish in Kalamazoo on Wednesday July 1st at 11:00 AM. Diana will be buried in Jones Cemetery in Muncie, Indiana, where a graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday July 2nd.

Memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Medical Mission Board, or Centrica Care Navigators-Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.