Mary T. (Nee) Wood

Mary Theresa Nee Wood passed away peacefully on October 26, 2025, shortly before her 91st birthday, following a long illness. She resided at the Christopher House Nursing Center, Worcester, Massachusetts. Shortly before her passing, Mary and her children were blessed to be together.

Mary was born on November 25th, 1934, in a small Irish cottage home in Turlough, Rosmuc, County Galway, Ireland. Born to the late Martin Nee and Annie (Mannion) Nee, Mary was the first of 12 siblings. She grew up in Ireland and after high school she attended Kylemore Abbey in Connemara, Ireland, to learn how to become a professional nanny.

Mary came to America by steamship, and settled in Worcester, Massachusetts under the watchful eye of her maternal Aunt, Agnes Mannion, in a boarding home for single women. Using the skills and knowledge gained from her education at Kylemore Abbey, Mary worked as a nanny for a short time. After employment as a nanny, she entered secretarial school and upon completion, worked as a secretary for Crompton and Knowles – a loom manufacturing factory, in Worcester.

Mary was a confident and beautiful Irish woman who twice competed and won the title of Miss Hibernia. If a woman of Irish descent was crowned Miss Hibernia, it meant that she would promote friendship, unity, and Christian charity to preserve Irish culture and history through charitable works. Mary was crowned Miss Hibernia in both 1956 and 1957 and proudly fulfilled the role of this coveted position within the Irish community.

Mary met her future husband, John Wood, at a pond in Worcester while ice skating. Mary was being teased by several young boys as she attempted to skate. Upon seeing this teasing, John came to Mary’s rescue and with this encounter, their lives were forever changed. Mary and John dated, grew to love each other, and married in 1957. Once married, they moved to Boston where John was employed as an Executive Trainee with State Street Bank.

In 1960, they moved to Melrose, Massachusetts, which they would call ‘home’ for the rest of their lives. They had 4 children: Michelle, Tamasine, Christopher and AnneMary. Mary’s children were always her priority. She would spend countless hours helping out at both her children’s school and church events by volunteering as a school chaperone and lunch mother.

Mary enjoyed cooking and loved socializing with everyone, especially during the holidays. When you entered her home, you were always treated like family. Mary was a kind and gentle soul who placed the needs of her family before herself. To all, she always appeared happiest when around family. Mary enjoyed traveling with John on banking business trips, especially to warm, sandy beaches in the Caribbean or the Western part of the US to enjoy time together. Mary joined John on many business trips around the world with the International Banking Group and visited China, European countries, Southeast Asia, and a number of states within the US. As each of her children got older, married, and had children of their own, John and Mary would happily travel around the world to visit their children’s homes and even stay for extended time when they were needed to help out with caring for their grandchildren.

To both John and Mary, family was the number one priority, and they would move heaven and earth to support their children. Religion and church were at the forefront of everything that she did. Every meal began with Grace. On Sundays and Holy Days she would gather up her family to attend Church services.

In her passing, Mary will be missed and forever present in the hearts of those whom she met and within her family. She will always be remembered for her faith, kindness, and the love in her heart.

Mary was the beloved wife of the late John Wood with whom she had celebrated 62 years of marriage before his passing in May of 2020.

She is survived by her children, Michelle Kanavos and her husband, Jay, of Marlborough, MA, Tamasine Wood-Creighton and her husband, James, of Antrim, NH, Christopher Wood, and his wife, Eileen, of Tewksbury, MA, AnneMary Wood-Mann and her husband, Jeff, of Medway, MA.

She is survived by twelve grandchildren, Jennifer Hoffman and her husband, Matthew, Eric Kanavos, Brianna Killian and her husband, Michael, Chelsea Creighton, Bridgette Southard and her husband, Steven, Samantha Wood, Caitlin McKinnon and her husband, William, Vanessa LaBombard and her husband, Bernie, Anastasia Wood, Lorna Wood, Coleman Mann, and Orla Mann.

She has eighteen great-grandchildren, Skylar, Brogan, Oliver, Peter, Mackenzie, and Jonah Southard; Kirwyn, Moira, and Colette McKinnon; Fatima, Leo and Cyrus LaBombard; Ella, Archibald, Shepherd, Bennett, and Augustus Hoffman; and, Maeve Killian.

She was the loving sister of Anne Kendle and husband Ellis, Barbara Sullivan and husband Richard, Michael Nee and wife Hanora, Kathleen Layden and husband Wayne, Delia Dalager and husband Arlan, Nuala Connors and husband John, John Nee, and Angela Coffey and husband Noel. She was also the sister of the late Coleman Nee, Patrick Nee and wife Peggy, and Joe Nee.

She was the sister-in-law of Mary (Wood) Ryan and the late Barbara (Wood) Anger.

Mary is lovingly survived my many nieces, nephews, and family around the world.

The Family of Mary Wood would like to extend special thanks and gratefully acknowledge the staff of Christopher House and Jewish Hospice for their loving care, especially during Mary’s final days.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation as a tribute to Mary Wood to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) or Concerts for Hope (https://www.ericgenuis.com/concertsforhope).

Calling hours will be at the Slattery Funeral Home, 40 Pleasant St., Marlborough, MA on Monday, November 3, 2025, from 5-7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Bernadette Church, Northborough, MA on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 10 am. Interment will be at St. John Cemetery, Worcester, MA immediately following the Mass.