Dolores ("Dee") Jean Wood

Dolores ("Dee") Jean Wood passed away on January 4, 2025, at the age of 90. She was born on July 8, 1934, in Biehle, MO where she grew up on a dairy farm with her parents and sister. Growing up, Dolores worked alongside her dad on the dairy farm where she learned at a young age how to do a hard day's work and become self-reliant. In high school, she met her future husband, Francis Aloysius ("Al") Wood. They were married on August 14, 1954, in Perryville, Missouri.

By the time she was thirty, Dolores had seven children under the age of ten. She raised her large family in seven different states while moving for Al's career, finally settling in Florida in 1977. Dolores mixed a no-nonsense mentality with a love of cars, fashion and interior design. She could replace the pipes under the sink, paint the kitchen a new color, wash and detail her car, and then walk out of the house looking like Jackie Onassis. She had a great sense of humor and a big laugh to go with it.

When she was 51 years old, Dolores lost Al to cancer. Having been a homemaker since the age of 20, Dolores had not held a job outside the home since she was in her teens. With her children now grown, she decided to move to Sarasota where she got a job as a receptionist with an insurance company. She loved her job, and they loved her. It was in Sarasota where she lived with her beloved dog, Cami.

In 2000, Dolores moved to the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club to be closer to some of her children. She was active in the community and was the head of the paint committee, oversaw the maintenance of the lake behind her home, and was in a bowling league. She loved to watch sunsets from her porch. Near the end of her days there, Dolores got her second dog, Maddy, who made her smile until the end of her life. In the midst of the many challenges and trials which she faced along the way, she consistently drew comfort from her weekly attendance at Sunday Mass.

About seven years ago, Dolores began to struggle with dementia. When she could not live alone any longer, she lived with several of her children and then moved into memory care at Ecumen Seasons at Apple Valley senior living facility in June of 2023. In the 18 months she lived at Ecumen, one or more of Dolores's three sons who lived close by, visited her almost every day. In addition, the staff at Ecumen treated her like a beloved family member, making her feel extra special and loved until the very end. They would blow her kisses, and she would blow them back. The staff characterized her as "sweet and sassy," and they loved her "special spark."

Dolores was ready to die and did not fear death, a final gift she gave to her family. She was looking forward to being reunited with friends and family in heaven. She will be missed by many.

Dolores was preceded in death by her husband, Al, her mother and father, Othmar and Lucille Ernst, and her sister, Ruby Schremp, her in-laws, Perry & Alma Wood, and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Sue & Vern Moegle and George & Diane Wood. She is survived by her 7 children, Craig Wood (wife: Teresa), Jeff (Father Norbert) Wood, Sheree Wood (wife: Nancy Faggianelli), Brad Wood (wife: Colleen McGough-Wood), Shelly Wood (husband: Brian Hood), Doug Wood and Jim Wood (wife: Katie). She has 15 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Leland Schremp and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kenny & Rhonda Buchheit. She is also survived by her dog Maddy, who is living happily with her new owner in Minnesota.

Services will be held at 11:00 AM on January 17th at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, 1079 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul MN, with a luncheon to follow and a visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM prior to the mass. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either St. Michaels Abbey (stmichaelsabbey.com) or the National Alzheimer's Association (alz.com).