Della Godfrey dies after cardiac arrest

Hyderabad: Della Godfrey, who was twice nominated as the Anglo-Indian legislator to the Assembly of undivided AP, passed away on Tuesday due to renal complications after a cardiac stroke. She was 68. She served two terms as MLA till 2004 in the tenure of the Telugu Desam government.

Her family stated that she suffered a massive cardiac stroke and was admitted to a private hospital six days ago. Her kidneys began failing after that.

She is survived by her daughter Shanaya, elder brother Noel Godfrey and nieces Karen Godfrey and Natalie Godfrey

Her mother Marjorie Godfrey was also a nominated member of the Assembly of undivided AP and Indian Parliament.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao expressed condolences over the demise of Della Godfrey.

“Della was generous and hardworking as a leader, and made many friends across the country. At Anglo-Indian general meetings, she participated actively at the business sessions through the day and was her friendly and charming self at the evening get-togethers,” said Mr Barry O’Brien, president-in-chief, All-India Anglo-Indian Association.

Della Godfrey was born and raised in Hyderabad. She studied at Rosary Convent High School and Koti Women’s College.

She worked as a  manager of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. She was inspired by her mother,Marjorie Godfrey, an educationist who established the Catholic Association of Hyderabad. She was one of the two Anglo-Indian members nominated to the 5th Lok Sabha in 1971 from Andhra Pradesh

Her father Allen Godfrey served as an engineer at the Royal Mint for the Nizam of Hyderabad.

The family will holding Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Gunfoundry at 3.30 pm on Wednesday. Her funeral will be held at the Catholic Cemetery, Narayanguda, later in the day, the family said.