Theresa Wood, 94

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  

Theresa Genevieve (Allard) Wood, 94, passed away peacefully at North Adams Regional Hospital surrounded by her loving family on March 21, 2025.

Born in Bennington, Vt. on January 3, 1931, the youngest child of George and Marcelline Allard, she attended schools there and graduated from the former Bennington High School.

Theresa married Richard Marcus Wood on Dec. 26, 1951, in Sacred Heart Church in Bennington, and they settled on Foucher Avenue in North Adams. They had four children, all of whom survive her today: Richard Wood Jr. (Debbie) of North Adams, Randy (Sue) Wood of Clarksburg, Valerie (Craig) Turner of North Adams, and Brian (Karla) Wood of Stratford, Conn.

Theresa was last employed by Williams College until her retirement in 1995. She first started work there as a call-in waitress in the ‘50s, and became a full-time custodian at the Center for Development Economics in 1983. Calling herself a “house mother,” she loved working with the international graduate students, and liked to say working there was her own college education. Other highlights from her Williams career included once serving the King and Queen of Thailand, meeting the Shah of Iran, and sneaking a smooch from Robert Redford. Prior to the college, she was a waitress at the Richmond Hotel and Mount Greylock Bowl.

Theresa was a longtime member of the former Holy Family Church, a parishioner at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish, member of the St. Jude Novena group since 1992, and a Eucharistic Adorer. She was an avid bowler and played in leagues for many years, and enjoyed gardening alongside her husband.

A beloved matriarch, Theresa loved spending time with her family most of all. Apart from her children, she leaves 12 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. A visit with Gram was always a treat, from board games and her mischievous housemate “Luke the Spook” to (later on) sharing a bottle of white wine with ice. She never missed a special occasion, and her cards signed “Love and Prayers, Gram” will be forever cherished.

She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Rita Allard, and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Richard in 2011; her siblings George Allard, Veronica McCann, Alfred Allard, Norman Allard, and Madeleine Fitzgerald; and a great-grandchild, Carrick Wood.

Spunky. Spitfire. “A saint.” Mom. Gram. Sister. Aunt. A dear friend. Theresa was truly one of a kind. You rarely saw her without a smile and a playful twinkle in her eye. It was often hard to get a photo with her where you weren’t both laughing. She was also incredibly caring, giving, and devout, and we were blessed to have her with us for so many years.

A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday March 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Church in North Adams, MA. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery. Calling hours are Thursday March 27, 2025 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Flynn & Dagnoli Funeral Home, WEST CHAPELS, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA. Memorial donations are suggested for St. Elizabeth Church 70 Marshall St. North Adams, Ma. 01247 or to Pop Cares P.O Box 482, Williamstown, Ma. 01267. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.