Edith Wood passed away peacefully at home just before dawn on 16 May 2023. She lived more than 95 years and endeared herself to everyone who knew her by her positive outlook, great wit and humor and her warm and welcoming manner. She was born Edith Barbara Gates on 2, October 1927 in Philadelphia to Charles Lester Gates and Mary Elizabeth Honnen, but quickly and forever after became known as “Dee”, when her 2 year old brother “Choddy”, tried to pronounce her name.

In 1929 her family moved to landmarked, Radburn, New Jersey, a hamlet of FairLawn and dubbed “the town for the motor age”. Inspired by English villages, known for it’s innovative cul-de-sacs and parklands all interconnected by tunnels, bridges and sidewalks, it was ideal for raising free range children who could get anywhere without crossing a street.

Dee would fondly recall her childhood and how her parents took advantage of their proximity to New York City and, especially for her father, the final years of Motion Picture production in near by Fort Lee where he worked as a cameraman and became an avid member of the Amateur Cinema League. He was also a manager of Sears and Roebuck in Hackensack, and a projectionist at the Rivoli Movie Palace in Rutherford. She liked to remember family time spent boating on the Hudson, riding in the rumble seat of their Model T, and even sailing to Bermuda, so much of which was captured on film & in photographs by her father.

At home in Radburn Dee forged lifelong friendships in the close knit village, especially with her “Bestie” Sally Ann Krauss (LaHiff). As far as anyone can tell these two laughed their way through adolescence and kept the party going to the end. Sally Ann was the last call Dee received the evening before her departure.

During the war years Dee’s uncle George (Honnen) held the rank of Brigadier General and served as the Commandant of Cadets at USMA. Dee spent many weekends at West Point with her cousins Betty and Jesse, flirting with cadets who became the Army officers who helped fight and win the war in Europe and the Pacific. As an 18 y/o she accompanied her uncle to the westside piers in Manhattan to greet the Queen Mary and other storied vessels transporting returning troops at the end of the war. One can imagine Dee, now a young woman along with her cousins, the first girls stateside those thousands of heroes laid eyes on after the hell of war. What a rush!

After graduating from Fair Lawn High School Dee attended Anderson College before commuting to the city where she worked as a clerical assistant. She joined a carpool with her brother & a couple of other Radburn natives, 2 of the 3 Wood brothers. Stu Wood courted Dee and they married in 1950, honeymooned on Cape Cod, and returned to settle in their home town along with most of their childhood friends. Dee bore 4 kids in 5 years-unfathomable to most women today, but not during the great baby boom. Life in their home on Aberdeen Place afforded their kids an equally charmed childhood through the 50’s and early 60’s.

In 1964 Dee and Stu moved to nearby Ridgewood on the corner of Linwood & Maple, the best perch for the 4th of July Parade, with Graydon Pool, Vets field & the Public library in their children’s front yard. Dee volunteered at the Kurth Cottage in the Valley Hospital and performed in some of the school districts fundraising theatricals. Then, with her kids in school most of the day, Dee first worked as an EKG tech at Valley, then became a medical assistant in the FairLawn office of Dr DalPan and his partner Dr. Ramunda.

Having survived the late 60’s with a houseful of teens Dee and Stu followed Stu’s parents and younger brother to the calmer more casual shores of Cape Cod.

They purchased a business in Yarmouth Port on a nice patch of land with an old Captains house. Dee worked part-time for several years in the medical office of Dr Bourne. The nature of their business afforded Stu a relaxed work schedule all summer, so they enjoyed loads of time together at the local beaches, exploring the remarkable beauty of Cape Cod and creating their home. From the late 70’s through the 90’s Dee was an active member at the Friday Club.

Life on the cape suited the whole family. Her husband’s parents, brothers and their families were now on the cape-so holidays became large family gatherings. Dee also hosted her old friends each fall for an annual Radburn reunion. Other wash a shore families from Radburn would join the frolicking multi-generational long weekends and old bonds continued to strengthen especially as grandchildren began appearing. Cooking had always been Dee’s passion and she excelled at preparing and presenting delicious meals whether for herself and Stu, the whole family, or a crowd of 50.

Dee’s sons were in many bands and she & Stu opened their home and hearts to them all for practice from the 70’s almost through to the present (God Bless Our Neighbors). Music was another of her passions and she loved all kinds. She attended most of her son’s and eventually her grand son’s gigs around the cape. She became a loyal supporter and listener to WOMR in Provincetown and the station was usually playing in the background. She was a devoted fan and regular caller to Cape Franks Root Soup, Tony Scungillis, Squid Jiggers Blend, and Lady Di’s Friday evening sing-a-long.

Having 2 of her grandsons close by and her 3rd a frequent visitor throughout their childhood, brought her ultimate joy, and she and Stu became Gramma Dee & Bub. Those years were filled with such love and care for all her boys.

After losing her beloved Stu shortly after their 60th anniversary in 2010, Dee very slowly began to wind down. Her daughters moved in, gradually becoming her caregivers and eventually even cooking for her, always trying to keep up with her culinary standards. In her final years as she became increasingly frail, she continued reading the paper every day, staying informed about local as well as national and international affairs, watching movies, and especially spending quiet time reflecting on her wonderful life and her love of the world around her. She enjoyed brief visits from family, and her daughters were honored to return some of the care she had devoted her life to providing them, for which they remain grateful, and for the opportunity to spend so much time and share so many laughs with her the last few years.
She never stopped laughing and looking on the bright side.

As her father left behind wonderful home movies, including color and sound films of their life through the 40’s (especially of a 9 y/o Dee telling a joke really well), Dee became a champion chronicler and diarist with 8mm, super 8 and later video. She spent many hours in her final years watching recorded memories now transferred to digital files. In fact, on her final night, under hospice care she watched an old reg 8 home movie on a dvd, from a Christmas in late 50’s. When her long departed mother and brother appeared on the screen her unforgettably beautiful blue eyes widened and twinkled, and with a faint smile she drifted off.

Dee was predeceased by her parents and husband Stuart King Wood; her brother, Charles Honnen Gates and his wife Muriel, in laws Ken and Anne Wood, & Don and Beverly Wood; nieces Catherine and Rebecca Wood; nephews Barry and Andy Wood and so many of her friends. She leaves behind her daughters Mary Lou and Carol Wood, both of Yarmouth Port, her sons Steve and his partner Claudia of Orleans and Stu and his partner Gail of NYC; grandsons Thacher Wood, Sam Wood and Nicholas Rhodes; many nieces and nephews, and treasured old friends and their families.

A memorial service for Dee will be held at Woodside Cemetery on Summer Street in Yarmouth Port on Saturday, 9th of September,11am Dress is casual, bring a chair if you like, and come prepared to sing! In lieu of flowers donations can be made to WOMR Outermost Radio or VNA of Cape Cod.

Aunt Dee was such a huge influence. She sparked my love (and career) in interior design. Her lovely homes and gardens in both Ridgewood and Yarmouth Port provided me with such creative inspiration. I remember sitting up past midnight with her in 1980 watching the first cable special of Richard Pryor. We were both beside ourselves with laughter and tears! You were my namesake and my mentor - I love you so much. Give Uncle Stu a kiss for me