Mary Frances Wood

Mary Barry Wood, a resident of Upper Montclair, NJ since 1970, passed away on July 14, 2025. She died in her sleep at her home after a nourishing meal from her son-he wants everyone to know there was no connection!

Mary was born November 25, 1936, in Boston, Mass., to Joseph and Mildred (Hines) Barry. When Mary was two years old, her mother died while delivering her younger sister.

Mary graduated from Trinity College, Washington, D.C., in 1958. In Washington, she met the love of her life, John H. "Jack" Wood, and they were married in Winthrop on September 22, 1962. Her uncle, Father Edmund Barry, who won a Bronze Star in World War II, officiated. After living briefly in Massachusetts and Virginia, they moved to Jack's home state of New Jersey, settling in Upper Montclair. They attended countless sports games of their sons, but their true love was going to auctions and house sales. One of her children once asked her, "Mom, shouldn't we have anything new?" Her answer? "Yes. Mattresses. That's it."

She was known by family and friends as the Mayor of Montclair. Mary Wood Estate and House Sales, which she ran for 40 years, was must-see-TV, before the advent of reality TV. The lines to get into her sales were very long. She was proud of the fact that she would never-ever-sell to her beloved husband, Jack-an expert on American art-no matter how hard he asked.

She was a collector of "guys." She had a gun guy, a jewelry guy, a stamp guy, a clock guy, a trash guy, a rug guy; all of whom would buy things from her. Some sophisticated, some gruff-but they all loved her for her decency, sense of fairness, and integrity.

Jack preceded her in passing in August 2022, one month short of their 60th wedding anniversary. Mary was a devout Catholic, attending morning Mass every day until she no longer could. When that happened, one of her sons asked, "do you miss Mass?" She replied, "I think I got enough in the bank."

Along with Jack, she was a driving force behind many happenings of St. Cassian's parish in Upper Montclair, especially the construction of the new church in 1995-just this past Sunday Monsignor Durant mentioned to one of her sons and grandsons that she sold some of the contents of the old rectory before it was demolished. Although none of her kids' athletic prowess lived up to it, she and Jack sponsored the stained-glass window in the church of Pope John Paul II preaching at Giant's stadium.

Her estate sale business was featured in numerous media outlets including the Montclair Times, Women's World, the Newark Star Ledger, and the New York Times.

Mary remained proud of her roots and never lost her Boston accent. She and Jack always looked forward to welcoming family and friends, both at their home in Upper Montclair and their place in the Berkshires, where Jack owned an art gallery in retirement, and Mary spent many happy weekends with him-including a famous one where they warded off would be home-wrecking bear.

Mary was a homecoming wrapped in a reunion and never tired of hosting her kids and grandkids. Her devotion as a spouse, mom, grandmother, and friend will remain an inspiration. Survivors include her four sons and daughters-in-law: John B. (Jessica) of Great Falls, VA; Christopher (Betsy) of Washington, DC; Nicholas (Christi) of Rye, NY; and Emmett (Kara) of Rumson, New Jersey; thirteen treasured grandchildren: Jack, Wylie, Violet, Molly, William, Oliver, Casey, Lily, Alex, Lucy, Henry Trace, Jocelyn, and Julien; and her beloved niece, Siobhan McEnaney-Hayes. The family would also like to thank Doreen Haughton, a longtime friend who served in recent years as her primary caregiver, and Doctor James (Jimmy) Morgan, her doctor and friend of the family.

The family invites all to attend the wake at the Moriarty Funeral Home on Friday 07/25 from 4-7pm. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Cassian Church at 10:30am on Saturday 07/26 with interment to follow next to her husband at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Montclair.

Please make any donations in Mary's name to Lamp for Haiti (lampforhaiti.org).