Jeane Elizabeth “GiGi” Wood, 84, of Madison, WI, formerly of Peoria and Carlinville, passed away at 9:50 p.m. on Sunday, August 2, 2009, at Meriter Hospital in Madison.
Jeane was born in Chicago on January 4, 1925, a daughter of Hugh E. and Ruth Leone (Hill) Nelson. She married James Russell Wood on January 10, 1947 in Peoria. He preceded her in death on April 25, 1988 in Carlinville. Her parents and an infant daughter, Charlotte Jean Wood, also preceded her in death.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet Ruth Vogel of Madison; granddaughter, Angela (Wayne) Neidigh of Middleton, WI; step-grandson, Rodney Hood of Peoria; brother, Richard Nelson of Morton; and great granddaughters, Hannah Elizabeth and Isabelle Claire Neidigh, at home.
Jeane retired as an executive secretary for the Peoria State Hospital and Zellar Mental Health Center. After her retirement, she worked part-time with the Peoria Public School’s Libraries. Her years working with the Peoria School District Libraries were a very special and rewarding time for her. She met many special people, while working at the various libraries.
Jeane and Jim built a home and retired to Lake Catatoga in Carlinville. There they enjoyed socializing with their many friends, swimming, fishing and boating on their pontoon. They were members of the Lake Catatoga Home Owner’s Association and Jeane served as the association’s secretary.
She enjoyed collecting friends, lighthouses, Beleek china and Santa Clauses. She was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling. She was positive, full of love, caring and generous. She was quick to smile or give an encouraging word and placed others before herself. She enjoyed meeting new people and was always up for a social function.
She spent most of her free time with her family. One of her most enjoyable trips was when she went with her granddaughter & great granddaughter to Disney World and Sea World. She shared her memories of a previous visit with her husband. She also shared a special fall day with her daughter and great granddaughter visiting various local apple orchards. They picked apples and made an apple pie out of the apples they picked. Her granddaughter spent every summer at their lake home.
Her family was her first priority. Her great granddaughters were the light of her life and she called them her girls. She was a loving wife and a loyal friend (she has many lifelong friends).
Visitation will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2009, with funeral services to follow at 7 p.m. at Clary Funeral Home in Peoria. Interment and graveside services will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2009, at Mayfield Memorial Park Cemetery in Carlinville.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jeane’s memory to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
| Sheila |
friend |
August 7, 2009 |
Jan, I am so sorry to hear about Jeane. I enjoyed it when she joined our gatherings at your house. She was spunky, fun and had a wonderful sense of humor. So that's where you get all your charm from! You are a wonderful, strong family who have each other to help you through these tough times. I extend my condolences to your family and all her friends. Take care.
| Shirlee and Larry |
friend |
August 6, 2009 |
Jan, We are so sorry to hear about your mom. . After reading her obituary, I definitely see that she was indeed a very special and loving person, and you were quite lucky to have her as your mom. Please give our condolences to your family, and know that we are thinking of you.
| Shirley (Nasses) Smith |
friend |
August 5, 2009 |
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I won't be able to attend the visitation but wanted to let you know that I have such fond memories of our times together.
You have my deepest sympathies,
Shirley (Nasses) Smith
