Elfriede Maria Luise Goeben

Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, daughter and friend to everyone, Elfriede was born on October 20, 1926, in Euerdorf Germany, a country she always loved, to Jakob and Maria Metzger.

While working for the Red Cross and U.S. Army, she met her first husband, Albert Alfonsin. With him they had five children, Dorothea, Henry, Fredrick, Gertrude and William. As a dedicated military wife and mother she raised her children in Germany, Italy, France, N.J., N.Y., California, Missouri and Colorado. After the early demise of her husband, she returned to Colorado Springs, where she personally owned and operated the Springs Motel. While working as an independent businesswoman she still found the time to volunteer at the Pauline Memorial Catholic Grade School, where she served at the P.T.A. and Benet Hill Academy. Elfriede devoted many hours to St. Paul’s Catholic Church with the Altar and Rosary Society.

In 1969, she married Oscar E. Goeben (whom she met playing bridge), and moved to New York City, where she had her youngest child, Barbara Goeben. She then returned to Colorado and later lived in New Jersey and Indiana, while working in accounting, before retiring to Colorado Springs.

She was passionate about gardening, bridge, travel and volunteering. In Indianapolis she organized city-wide blanket drives, served the needy through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and established gardens through the National Garden Club. During her “retirement” she established two local chapters, serving in many capacities. Her efforts were recognized by being named a Member of Honor by National Garden Clubs.

She will be missed by so many who loved her. She is survived by her daughters, Trudie (Phil) Layton and Barbara Goeben, her son, William A. Von Goeben, five grandchildren, Zach (Angela) Wooten, Jake (Darcie) Wooten, Aaron (Courtney) Layton, Andrea (Chris) Kellenberger, Ian (Kenzie) Layton, her granddaughter in law, Callie Wooten; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Kaelyn, Alysha, Emily, Chloe, Brandon, Ayden, Haley, Alex, Ashley, Austin, Cameron, Walker, Gretchen, numerous nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and nieces, and devoted friends.

Elfriede was preceded in death by her husbands, Albert and Oscar, her sons, Henry and Freddie, her daughter, Dottie, and her grandson, Adam, and her sister, Anneliese Metzger.

Visitation will be at Swan-Law Funeral Home on Wednesday November 9, 2022 from 5pm-7pm and a funeral mass will be held at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, November 10, 2022 at 1:30 pm. Memorials may be sent to the National Garden Clubs, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, or the Benet Hill Priory.