Nov. 26, 1950 – July 24, 2024
Patricia Wood, known as “Patti”, “Honey”, “Mom” and “Grandma”, died unexpectedly on July 24th. Patti was born in Niagara Falls, New York, the daughter of the late John Alfred McDonald and Anna Marie (LaPorta) McDonald. She graduated from Lewiston Porter High School where she met her husband Bob at a Sophomore Dance. They were married on Saturday, October 12, 1968, honeymooned in Niagara Falls, and moved to Mountain View, California the following Tuesday. Patti was 17-years old, Bob was 20, and they embarked on a wonderful adventure that lasted 55 years. They had three children, David, Renée, and Bryan (deceased).
After leaving the bay area they lived briefly in Rancho Cordova and settled in Grass Valley in 1977. Patti loved this community and would never have given a thought to leaving. She worked for the Grass Valley School District for 30 years at several elementary schools as a Teacher’s Assistant. Her bright, easy smile and a sincere interest in others allowed her to make friends easily. She rarely attended an event where she didn’t meet a former coworker, student, neighbor or other acquaintance, and enjoyed catching up. She loved her many friends, cooking, live music, kayaking, collecting owls, the Grass Valley Moose Lodge and watching “Jeopardy” on TV. But most of all, she loved her family and treasured the time she spent with them. They meant the world to her.
Patti is survived by her husband Bob, son David Wood and daughter-in-law Harmony of Grass Valley, daughter Renée Wood Diamond (Amy) of Los Angeles, grandchildren Jake, Aiden, Gavin, Mariah, Elizabeth, Hayden, Sophia and many great grandchildren. Patti was the oldest of five children and is survived by her sisters, Diane Wendt, Elaine Barbiero (Ed), Kathy Beltracchi (Dennis), and her brother John McDonald (Lenore), Uncle Alvin McDonald, Aunt Joan LaPorta, as well as a very large extended family in Western New York.
A Funeral Mass is scheduled August 13 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick Church, 235 Chapel Street, Grass Valley, to be followed by a luncheon reception in the church hall.
