VERNA B. "GINGER" (WILLIAMS) WOOD

Aug. 10, 1921 - Aug. 6, 2008
SOUTH BEND - Verna Belle "Ginger" Wood, 86, of Auten Road, died Wednesday afternoon in Our Lady of Peace Hospital, South Bend. She was born August 10, 1921, in South Bend, to Lawrence and Marie (Surface) Williams, who preceded her in death. Also preceding her in death were 10 brothers and sisters. On October 27, 1945, she married Robert W. Wood in Louisville, KY. He died in 1959.

Verna worked for St. Mary's College as Director of Student Health Services in the 1970s through the 1980s, was a World War II veteran nurse, and was a member of the following: VFW Post 284, Facility of Notre Dame University Club, and Indiana State Nurses Assoc.

She was a graduate of South Bend Central High School, St. Joseph and Holy Cross School of Nursing and Indiana University. She was on the South Bend Central Reunion Committee, and was a member of I.U. Alumni, University Reunion Alumni, Nursing Alumni Association, and the Caritas Mass & Card Club.

Surviving are a daughter, Sandra J. (Jerry) Wiggins of South Bend; a son, Gregory A. (Linda) Wood of South Bend; nine grandchildren, Lisa, Todd, Robert, Jack, Sheree, Jeremy, Brett, Chad and Chris; 15 great-grandchildren, Casey, Tasha, Anna, Alexis, Brenda, Tori, Justin, McKayla, Jay, Sonia, Brianna, Jacob, Noah, Madison and Elijah; and a sister, Eva Reynolds of Riverside, CA.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, August 11, in Christ the King Catholic Church, South Bend (933 and Darden Roads). Friends may call from 2 to 5 p.m. today in the HICKEY Funeral Home, 17131 Cleveland Road, where a Rosary will be said at 2 p.m. today. Additional visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until services Monday in the church. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674. A special thanks to the nurses and staff of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center and Our Lady of Peace Hospital for their care and compassion to our mother

. "To Those I Love" If I should ever leave you Whom I love To go along the silent way, Grieve not, Nor speak of me with tears, But laugh and talk Of me as if I were Beside you there. (I'd come - I'd come. Could I but find a way! But would not tears and grief Be barriers?) And when you hear a song Or see a bird I loved, please do not let The thought of me Be sad...for I am Loving you just as I always have... You were so good to me! There are so many things I wanted still To do - so many things To say to you... Remember that I Did not fear... it was 'Just leaving you that was hard to face... we cannot see beyond... but this I know: I loved you so - 'twas heaven Here with you! Isla Paschal Richardson

Published by South Bend Tribune from Aug. 9 to Aug. 10, 2008.

03/14/2023 EJS