Stephanie T. Goecke

Stephanie T. Goecke, age 61 passed away from colon cancer May 9, 2023 surrounded by her loved ones. 

She leaves behind her husband Matthew Duda and their two beautiful children, Tony and Alison. She is the sister of Mary Ann Collado-Wharton, Susan Hansen, Margaret Alford Cackler, Joseph Goecke, Barbara Gangware, Peter Goecke, John Goecke, and Henry Goecke, and a dear aunt to their children.  She is pre-deceased by her sister Josephine Elizabeth Russell.

Stephanie was very involved in her local community of Plymouth.  She was a regular volunteer in the Plymouth schools by helping establish a reading program that connected retired seniors in the community with elementary students at Farrand Elementary.  She was a onetime candidate for school board and active in the PTO.   She served many years (2000-2018) as a Trustee on the board of the Educational Excellence Foundation (EEF) serving Plymouth-Canton Public Schools. She joined the Rotary Club of Plymouth in 2012, was an active member and also served as a panel member for the Plymouth Board of Review from 2009-2020.  Stephanie worked her entire career in the field of law, though it wasn’t until mid-career that she would go back to school for a Law Degree and begin her own practice.  She was a compassionate lawyer and became a mentor to several attorneys as they entered the field. 

After her cancer diagnosis, Stephanie encouraged others to get their health screenings done. She would say, “It’s way better than the alternative.” 

Stephanie was deeply loved by many and will be greatly missed.  Her family wishes to express their deep gratitude and appreciation and are immensely thankful for all of the love and support of the many friends and neighbors during this time of loss.

The family will be holding a private Celebration of Life at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Stephanie’s name be made to the Plymouth Rotary Club and earmarked for The Memorial Scholarship Fund, P. O. Box 5401, Plymouth, Michigan 48170-8464 or donations may be made online at Plymouth Rotary Memorial Scholarship Fund