Obituary of Elinor D. Wood

Elinor Wood was called to eternal rest on April 16, 2020 due to natural causes having lived well for 97 years. Elinor was born in Queens, New York and grew up in Staten Island. She graduated from New Dorp High School in 1941 and the Lenox Hill Hospital School of Nursing School in 1944. While she took a long hiatus to raise her 5 children, she returned to work in the 1970s to Staten Island’s Bayley Seton Hospital where she found rewarding work with patients with Hansen’s disease (leprosy). While finishing school, Elinor met her husband Captain Earl Wood on the Staten Island Ferry in 1943. As her yearbook said, she was then “lost in the Woods”. They tied the knot in August 1944 and were married for 57 years. While raising the family in Staten Island, they summered at the Jersey shore. In 1986 Elinor and Earl moved to Brick, NJ to enjoy the water, boating and travel. They would often just go out on the boat to have lunch and listen to the radio. They went to Europe several times, drove cross country and enjoyed visiting their children in NJ, Colorado and Georgia. She took such pleasure looking at those photos of all those trips. Her children called Elinor the “energizer bunny” and in 2002 after Earl passed away, Elinor then went on to spend 14 active years in the Seabrook Independent Living in Tinton Falls, NJ. She continued traveling and loved going to the NY museums and shows until she was 90. Elinor moved to Sunrise Assisted Living in Madison, NJ in 2019 to be closer to her children. The family was so happy to have spent this last Christmas with Elinor. As is the Wood family tradition since 1945, Santa Claus visits on Christmas Eve and Elinor had fun and flirted with Santa Claus who always makes an appearance. Elinor made the first Santa Claus suit in 1945 and we kept it until 2013 - while we got a new suit, we kept the tradition. Elinor wanted to make sure her children knew they were the light of her life and she leaves behind 2 devoted daughters and 2 sons. Carin Wood and her husband Steve Niforatos, Pompton Plains, NJ; Janice Wood, Morristown, NJ; Jeffrey Wood and his wife Bobbi of East Windsor, NJ and David Wood and wife Lisa, Anthemn Arizona. She was predeceased her daughter Pamela Wood, Decatur, Ga. She will be greatly missed by her loving grandchildren, Paul Bertagnoll, Sara Niforatos, Daneille Sallahian and her husband Leo, Alex Morris-Wood and his husband Matt, Stephanie Jill Sorrentino, Samanntha Wood and Emma Wood. It was a true joy for her to have 2 great-grandchildren, Natalie and Michael Sallahian. She also leaves behind 13 nieces and nephews across the country who have great memories of family gatherings and fun summer days spent at the shore. To our mom, grandma and “Gigi”, we are so sad and heartbroken that you are gone. You will always be in our hearts and minds and we will treasure our memories, your love of life and spirit. May you rest in peace. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Heart Association. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Morristown. We ask that you please keep Elinor’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Arrangements are under the care of Burroughs, Kohr & Dangler Funeral Home, Madison.