Obituary of Lauretta R. Wood

Lauretta R. Marquis Wood, 98 of Syracuse, NY passed away peacefully on June 21st at Francis House with her family at her side. She was born on November 14, 1921 in Lowell, Massachusetts to Diana and Archibald Marquis, moving with her family to Syracuse when she was four years old. She graduated from St. John the Evangelist High School in 1941. She was employed by C.E. Chappell and Sons clothing store where she learned to be a ladies’ suit, coat and dress buyer. When World War II began, she went to work for General Electric as a buyer for stationary products. In 1973, she went to work as Assistant Manager at Fair City Savings Bank (now Key Bank) and retired from there in 1983. Just prior to World War II, she married her high school sweetheart, Thomas J. Wood, Sr. in 1943. They bought a house in Eastwood and raised their family there; it is in this house that she lived independently until May of this year. After the war, she stayed home to raise their children. She and her husband attended all of their children’s school activities; this was very important to them and continued to be over the years with their grandchildren. She was President of the Christian Brothers’ Academy Mothers’ Club and the Secretary for the Parents’ Group at Bishop Grimes High School. She was a Communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church. She also had many dear friends through her Knitting Club. Lauretta was pre-deceased by her loving husband of 60 years in 2003. They enjoyed, among many other things, dancing, traveling together, and watching/attending Syracuse University sports. Surviving are two sons: Thomas J. Wood, Jr. (Jane) and Robert J. Wood, Sr.; two daughters, Patricia L. Mack (Christopher) and Robin A. Nicholson (William). She was blessed with 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by four brothers. She will be greatly missed by her family as she was truly an inspiration in many ways. She was a caring, fiercely independent person but above all was deeply committed to her family. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to Francis House, St. Camillus Residential Healthcare Facility and/or to continue to grant her husband’s wish to help find employment for someone who otherwise might not have the opportunity to find work. Services are private at this time due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. A celebration of her life will take place when appropriate. It will consist of a Mass followed by a picnic with hopefully many of her loving extended family members and their friends present.