Peggy Joy Pilas Wood

Peggy Joy Pilas Wood

Peggy Joy Pilas Wood, affectionately known as 'Mommy', 'Pegspug', 'Pegs', 'Disney' and 'Pooch', passed away peacefully in the arms of her husband and twin daughters after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 71 years young.

In recent days friends have described Peggy as an "indomitable and infectious spirit", a "life-force of immense proportions", a "force of nature" and the "life of the party". She left an "indelible impression" on everyone she met, thanks to a personality characterized by "endearing individuality." She was entertaining, beautiful, loving and incredibly smart. She had the biggest heart and was a devout animal lover. At one point, her home included five dogs, a potbelly pig, a guinea pig and several birds, hermit crabs, hamsters and fish. She was always unabashedly herself, starting at a young age.

Born in Chicago to James and Carol Pilas, Peggy grew up in the theater. Participating in The Jack and Jill Players as a child, she's been known to belt out songs at any given moment. Her best friend recollects how Peggy would walk into her parents' house, sit down and sing the songs from "Hello Dolly". She was always an entertainer, and in her late teens she was chosen as Miss Columbus Day in the annual Chicago parade. Her friends of all ages know that Peggy could never take a picture without singing, "smile though your heart is aching", and we find solace in those words today. Her habit of belting out songs - from show tunes to rock and roll - continued up until her final months, and her daughters sang some of her favorite songs to her as she rose to Heaven.

Peggy left Chicago to go to college at Loretto Heights in Colorado. However, the small college was not enough for her exuberant spirit. She walked onto the University of Texas campus while visiting a friend in Austin, and soon thereafter enrolled. She carried her magnetic personality and love of music with her to UT, becoming head of the Student Union and a Silver Spurs Sweetheart. Part of her role on the Student Union included coordinating live entertainment, and she brought in greats like Janis Joplin, the Moody Blues and The Who to entertain her fellow students.

After Texas, she went to get her Master's in Journalism at Northwestern's Medill School. There she first met the future love of her life Arthur MacDougall Wood, Jr., but she left Chicago to go work for Y&R in New York City where she lived in a 5-story walk-up on the Upper East Side. She often reminisced about eating caviar on toast points for dinner during her days in NYC. Before long, Peggy's charm and public relations prowess landed her a spot on Gerald Ford's presidential campaign as a staff member on his communications team. Her stories include eating in the senior staff mess hall, flying on Air Force One and being on the floor of the Republican National Convention. She was larger-than-life and her experiences reflect that.

A job opportunity at J. Walter Thompson brought Peggy home to Chicago, where her intelligence and determination led her to become one of the first female executives at the ad agency. A memorandum announcing her promotion highlighted Peggy's "abundance of talent and appetite for making things happen." It was back in Chicago where, while Peggy was on a date with someone else, Art approached her with a line about being Miss Columbus Day, and the rest is history. Peggy and Art always spoke vibrantly about their early years living at Ritchie Court, sharing stories on how they fell in love listening to Neil Young on Peggy's stereo. Music also filled the long halls in their apartment on Lakeshore Drive. The consummate hosts, they had friends visiting at all hours of the day. They were at the center of the Chicago "scene" and loved mingling at Maxim's. Their wedding was a party for the ages.

Peggy's greatest calling came in 1986 when she gave birth to identical twin girls, Abigail and Daisy. Peggy dedicated her life to her children, and her daughters love her beyond measure. The love between mother and daughters was palpable and felt by all those around them. While living in Sarasota, FL, Peggy was always the class mother, always hosted the end-of-year school parties, and always had a gaggle of girls in her bright red Lincoln Navigator. Trips to Disney World were frequent. When the family moved back to Lake Forest, IL, this trend continued. Abby and Daisy's friends talk about how Peggy was the first Mom to treat them as adults and taught them that it was ok to be themselves. Once the girls were in college, Peggy visited them regularly. She became a second mother to her girls' friends and was seen at more parties and football tailgates than many students.

Peggy was very civic minded, serving on numerous boards such as Lurie Children's Hospital, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the Sarasota Youth Opera. She was an active member of the Founders Garden Club in Sarasota and the Lake Forest Garden Club. Peggy co-chaired numerous black-tie events, showcasing her exquisite taste and superb organizational skills.

Peggy made friends wherever she went. She kept in touch with people from all walks of life, energetically traveling around the world to reunite with them, never missing a party or a wedding. She was the epitome of grace and style; an impeccable dresser with jewelry for every occasion. She will be missed terribly, her absence an unfillable void. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her sister Carol Fogarty and many dog-children. She is survived by her husband Arthur, daughters Abigail Phatak (Prasad) and Daisy Tolles (Jamie), grandchildren Lily and Arthur Tolles, two grandchildren on the way, dog Tigerlily, grand-dog Teddy and many nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service was held at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, July 23rd at 3 PM at the Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, IL. Another celebration will be held in Sarasota, FL later this summer.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lurie Children's Hospital, an organization near and dear to Peggy's heart. Info: Wenban Funeral Home, Lake Forest (847) 234-0022 or www.wenbanfh.com