Muriel Cossette Hodgman

Muriel Cossette Hodgman

September 1, 1927 ~ December 24, 2018

Mary Muriel (Cossette) Hodgman passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2018 surrounded by family. Muriel was born September 1, 1927 in Dracut, Massachusetts to Joseph Laurent Poirier Cossette and Marie Rosalie Labrie. She was educated and refined in local parochial schools and graduated from Soeurs de l’Assomption de la Sainte Vierge girls’ boarding school and convent, class of 1945, in Nicolet, Quebec, Canada. She excelled in school, sports and “joviality,” and was recognized by classmates as an elegant and cultured woman.  

Following graduation, Muriel continued her training at the convent, however, just prior to taking upon herself the final vows of a life-time devotion as a nun, she returned home to Massachusetts for the Christmas holiday break in 1948. She was immediately swept off her feet by Kenneth Clark Hodgman, a slender handsome cowboy from the wild west, who came visiting with his older brother and Muriel’s older sister who had married during the war. Within days, Muriel accepted a marriage proposal and returned with Ken where the couple would marry on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1949 in St. Joseph Church, Ogden, Utah; truly a modern-day romance of soul mates.

Ken introduced Muriel to camping, fishing, hunting and western-style living, where she gained a great love and appreciation of the majesty of the Rocky Mountains. They were always working together on home improvements and automobile repair. Within a year and a half, the couple invited a cherished daughter, Toni, into their family of love.

As the Korean War was heating up, Hill Air Force Base was in need of personnel to support the military ramp up. Muriel applied for an administrative position, but the supervisor was so taken by her knowledge of automobile parts and maintenance procedures he immediately hired her to work in the Motor-pool, repairing and maintaining vehicles. When the war subsided, Muriel went back to her ambition to be at home and the couple added a son, John, to the family.

Muriel was selfless in her consistent giving to family, neighbors and friends, always driven to improve, had a thirst of knowledge, was a quick study, always accepting of all individuals, and desired to instill the same in all her family members. Over the years, Muriel was involved with public schools, PTA president, JC’s, Girl Scouts, CCD of St. Mary’s, the IRS, the Elk’s Club and a member of St. Henry’s. Above all, her real passion always remained with her husband and children.

Preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth (2011), and eight of her ten siblings, Muriel is survived by her daughter, Muriel Antoinette (Toni) Hodgman (her two daughters: Dr. Tressa Antoinette Johnston (Matt) with children Selina Cossette and Madison Antoinette, and step-son Dustin; and Sarah RaeLyn Gray (Scott) with children Keirra and Jaxon), and fiancé, Michael James Powers; and her son, John C Hodgman and wife, Victoria Joyce Kelly, (their five children – son, Jonathan Grant (Stephanie Annika); son, David Clarke (Kara) with children Lexy, Lena and Luke; daughter, Kathryn Cossette Hill (Austin) with children Ellery, Cossette, Ford, Juniper and Thea; daughter, Stephanie Kelly Bjornn (Jon) with children Pearson and Jens; and son, Michael Beck (Keilara). Muriel loved her seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. Muriel is also survived by two of her siblings, Lenny Cossette (Carmen) of Massachusetts, and Vicki Cossette Prasad (Mohan) of Florida, and sister-in-law Nettie Liotta Hodgman of California, as well as, numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 2 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 514 24th Street Ogden, UT. Friends may visit with family on Friday from 1:30 to 2 p.m. at the church. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd. Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

The family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful and attentive long-term care of Dr. Lynn Beard and his fine medical staff in Brigham City.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hearts of Hospice Care, who were especially loving and compassionate as Muriel transitioned her mortal life.