Mary Wood

Mary E. Wood, nee Mangini, age 95, passed away peacefully at home on November 10, 2018.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter S. Wood, M.D..  Mary was born on February 22, 1923 to Antonietto (aka Henrietta) and Gaetano Mangini in Staten Island, New York and was the second oldest of seven siblings.  She is survived by her daughter Judith Huff (John), son Wallace, daughter Edith Granat, grandsons Walter, Justin, Chase, great granddaughter, Olivia, brother Albert (Judy) Mangini, brother Bill (Barbara) Mangini, brother-in-law, Ronald Emde, as well as extended family who loved her dearly.  Mary grew up in Staten Island, New York and graduated from the Brooklyn Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in May, 1945.  She also studied at Columbia and New York Universities and was a member of the American Nursing Association.  She held nursing positions at both Brooklyn Methodist Hospital and New York Presbyterian Hospital.  Mary moved to Chicago in 1951 to be married to her greatest love, Walter S. Wood, M.D..  They were married on March 28, 1952.  While in Chicago, she worked as head nurse at Cook County Hospital.  After living in Chicago and Wilmette, IL, Walter, Mary and family settled in Hinsdale, IL, where she had been a resident since 1965.  Mary volunteered on many boards and auxiliaries over three decades.  Included in those were the Women’s Auxiliary of Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine, where she served as President in 1979.  She served on the board and was awarded for her outstanding service in 1979 from Family Services of DuPage County.  Her passion for opera, which she shared with her husband, led her to serve as Co-President of the Hinsdale Chapter of the Lyric Opera from 1997-1999. Her self-proclaimed greatest professional accomplishment was working along side her husband at the Southwest Suburban Center on Aging for over twenty years.  Mary was a member of The Union Church of Hinsdale, where she served on various boards and taught Sunday school throughout her 50+ years as a member.  Along with her dedication to her nursing career and volunteer work, Mary enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She loved music, especially opera and the symphony.  She was a devoted Christian and went to Union Church every Sunday, including the Sunday before she went to be with her beloved husband and the Lord.  A memorial service will be held at The Union Church of Hinsdale, 137 S. Garfield St., Hinsdale, IL on December 1 at 2:00pm.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Union Church of Hinsdale.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.